Patent It Yourself

One recommendation: If you use this book to write your first patent filing, let a patent lawyer review the filing before you submit. This shouldn't cost you more than an hour or two in attorney fees and from my experience can enhance your submission and improve its chances for allowance significantly. I did this for my first several submissions and learned something each time. Eventually there was little the attorney could offer, and I then ceased the practice.

Wish I could give 6 stars for this remarkable book.


Good, But Be Careful!   May 19, 2003
David C. Veeneman (Lincolnshire, IL USA)
130 out of 140 found this review helpful

I ordered this book to educate myself on the process of obtaining a patent. I don't plan on writing my own application--I believe pretty strongly that, even with a good book of this sort, self-filing is a very bad idea.

I know from some work that I have done that patents are regularly thrown out in court because of technical defects in their language. I am personally familiar with a case in which a major patent was overtuned because it misused insurance industry jargon. But if that's not enough to make your hair stand on end, consider this: Who is going to license or buy a do-it-yourself patent? Probably not Microsoft, GE or Ford.

So why am I buying this book? I suspect that the second major cause of patent failures is the inventor who turns the process over to a lawyer and isn't involved. I want to know the process so that I can be a more intelligent, actively involved client. I rely on my patent lawyer for his legal expertise, and he relies on my for my subject matter expertise. The better I understand the process, the easier it is for him to communicate with me.

'Patent It Yourself' is a good text to use for that purpose, even though it is aimed at do-it-yourselfers. If I know the process well enough that I could do it myself, then I know enough to work with an expert in the field, and to respect his or her expertise.


Patently Wonderful.   June 3, 2000
T. O. Whitehead (El Campo, Texas)
81 out of 82 found this review helpful

If you're contemplating a patent, this book is a treasure. It is thorough and well-organized, a wealth of relevant material articulately presented by a writer who obviously knows his stuff. Patent attorney David Pressman guides you step by step through the process -- conceiving your idea, adequately documenting your invention, successfully writing and obtaining your patent, avoiding legal pitfalls, and profitably marketing your intellectual property.

At each step along the way Pressman presents insiders' information without which you could easily trip and fall. And at each step he offers practical "laundry lists" of issues to consider, facilitating a level of thoroughness that would be hard to achieve without them.

It's easy to recommend this valuable work, both to inventors who want to seek a patent on their own and to others who just want a comprehensive overview of the law, the issues, and the process.


Patent It Yourself by David Pressman is a sure winner!   August 24, 1996
64 out of 65 found this review helpful

If you have a great idea, but don't know what to do with it, "Patent It Yourself" by David Pressman is here to help. This book is a true blessing to both novice and seasoned inventors alike. It's organized format and light-hearted illustrations make this a truly enjoyable read. Packed to the gills with information, "Patent It Yourself" will answer virtually any question an aspiring inventor may ask. It covers everything from avoiding invention marketing companies to patent searching, from drafting a patent application to licensing your creation. The author is a practicing patent attorney registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, a former patent examiner, as well as an inventor himself with his own patents. His experience definitely shines through in each page of this work. As an inventor myself, I have truly put this book to the test. With the aid of "Patent It Yourself", I have taken two ideas from images in my head, to patented, finished products that are supplementing my income. This book has saved me thousands of dollars in legal fees and has also saved me from many a headache. I would definitely recommend "Patent It Yourself" to anyone interested in turning an idea into profit. Christine Hanisco - Lansdale, PA


Great Book . . . And A Good Reference For Patent Attorneys   April 23, 1999
50 out of 51 found this review helpful

I'm a patent attorney, and I've kept this book near my desk for years. I recommend it often to clients. Even if they really don't want to file their own patent applications, the book helps them to better understand patent applications. After reading a few chapters, they're often able to make well-informed decisions about their patent matters. And many patent attorneys can benefit from reading parts of the book, such as the chapter on marketing inventions.