Video: Why And When Would You File For A Patent?

In this brief video, Fred Wilf explained how patent law differs from copyright and trademark law, and how inventors can protect their creations, as long as they are novel, useful, and non-obvious. He outlined the critical one year on sale/public disclosure deadline, the necessity for enabling disclosure and best mode, and the difference between provisional and full (utility) applications. He also reviewed strategic uses of patents: sword/shield, licensing, and cross licensing, in the context of a cost benefit analysis.