Patent tip: Keep your stuff secret!

One of the requirements in patent law, in order to get a patent and the desired monopoly on your technology, is that the invention must be new.

A single sell of the product, wherein the invention is integrated is sufficient to take away this so called novelty and thus is killing the chances on getting a valid monopoly. 

So keep your stuff secret! Secret at least till you have made a sensible decision on obtaining protection. If you have to disclose details to suppliers or potential clients, have them sign an NDA!

Hendrik de Lange
Dutch and European patent attorney
+31 (0) 6 481 74 686
http://www.octrooifabriek.nl