Lesson 2.1
The Invention Disclosure
The foundation of every patent application starts with a clear, complete description of your invention. Learn the structured format used by professional patent departments to capture what your invention is, how it works, and why it matters.
Disclosure formatProblem/solutionEmbodimentsAdvantages
Lesson 2.2
Prior Art Searching
Prior art is anything publicly available before your filing date that is relevant to your invention. Master the databases and search strategies that patent examiners themselves use — so you know what they'll find before they find it.
USPTO PATFT/AppFTGoogle PatentsEspacenetCPC classification
Lesson 2.3
Reading and Interpreting Patents
Patents are written in a unique language that takes practice to decode. Learn to read claims, specifications, and prosecution histories so you can understand exactly what a prior art reference covers — and what it doesn't.
Claims anatomySpecification sectionsProsecution historyPatent families
Lesson 2.4
Patentability Assessment
After your search is complete, how do you decide if your invention is worth pursuing? A systematic framework for evaluating patentability, identifying your strongest claims, and making the go/no-go decision.
Novelty analysisObviousness evaluationClaim mappingGo/no-go framework
Lesson 2.5
Inventor Notebooks & Documentation
Proper documentation can make or break your patent case. Learn the legal requirements for inventor notebooks, corroborating evidence, and the documentation habits that protect your rights from day one.
Inventor notebooksDate corroborationDigital recordsWitnessed signatures