A beginner's guide to patents

Recent events regarding business method patents (also referred to as business model patents) have caused people who formerly had relatively little reason to take an interest in the patent industry to sit up and take an active interest in patents and all they entail. The following is intended as a (very brief) introduction to patents for such newcomers to the patent field. Detailed descriptions of the fields covered can then be found at the links provided. The following is provided only as a reference and should by no means be interpreted as legal advice (the only advice we would offer is that you consult a qualified patent attorney before applying for a patent. A worldwide list of attorneys is provided here). Links to more detailed patent information can also be found at the end of this article.

What is a patent? / What kind of patents exist? / What is patentable? / What isn't patentable? / Does my idea for a patent already exist? / What is a business method/model patent (BMP), and why all the fuss? / How long does a patent last? / International Applications / The Japanese Patent System / Kokai? Kokoku? What are they talking about? / How much does it cost to apply for a patent? / How do I find an attorney? / Additional Information