I know our readers must be brainstorming as on what I have to do with the horses and the cart. Interestingly, sometimes this adage holds true for many over zealous entrepreneurs and inventors. It is well understood that competition in the technology market is rampant. There are times when the race to the patent office is the only thing engrossed in the minds of budding entrepreneurs. And why not when we have a “first to file” system on the records, we are in a major rush! Amidst this massive rush of filing multiple patent applications and building your patent portfolio, many inventors assign least priority to the most important piece of information. You guessed it right: it’s the ever important “Prior Art”. For some, prior art just constitute giving a couple of hours scan on the existing patent databases and kudos if you don’t have a similar patent on the records. You begin filing your application!
Is it a right methodology, well absolutely no. You definitely cannot put the cart before the horses and repent in the end. An insightful Prior Art report with the maximum emphasis laid on similar existing technology patents, gives you a lucid idea on the areas to work upon. A well researched Prior Art also assists you in finding the patent whitespace areas worthy of innovation. These untapped areas could serve as the probable grounds for innovation where businesses can streamline their IP strategies efficiently. As an IP strategist, my emphasis lies in working sequentially yet smartly. Entrepreneurs should put thorough efforts and gain complete insights of the existing prior art before filing their patent applications. This will save you loads of time later when you devote your efforts in formulating business strategies rather than answering multiple office actions on accounts of existing prior arts. On a positive note, I hope now you won’t put your cart before the horse!
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