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What Is A Patent?
A patent is a property right granted by the United States government only to the true inventor, excluding all others from making, using or selling the invention. A patent is granted for a specific term after which it enters public domain and may be freely used by anyone. Patents are not issued for business systems, printed matter or ideas, nor if the invention was sold or publicly known anywhere in the world for more than one year prior to filing.

What Is A Copyright?


A copyright is a form of ownership and legal protection for "original works of authorship." The copyrighted work must be in tangible form. The Copyright Act generally gives the owner of the copyright the exclusive right to reproduce, prepare derivative works, distribute copies, publicly perform, or display the work of artistic expression. In cases of "works for hire" the employer and not the employee is considered the owner of the copyright.

What Is A Trademark?


A trademark is either a word, or groups of words, a phrase, a symbol or design, a logo or combination thereof which identifies the source of goods or services to be rendered. Normally a trademark for goods appears on the product and/or packaging, while a service mark appears in advertising for the service. All registered marks are valid throughout the United States and can last indefinitely as long as the owner continues to renew the mark and use the mark in interstate commerce.

What are different Patent Classifications?


Provisional
One-year filing with limited power that can be utilized for certain cases.

Utility
Twenty-year term for new, useful and non-obvious process, machine, article of manufacture, composition of matter or an eligible improvement thereof.

Design
Fourteen-year protection for a new, original and visible ornamental design of an invention.

Plant
Twenty-year grant for asexually reproduced varieties of distinct or new plants, hybrids and seedlings other than tuber-propagated or existing in an uncultivated state.

Patent Pending
Terms used by manufacturer or seller of an invention to inform the public that a patent has actually been filed. It is against the law to use these terms incorrectly.

Disclosure Document
A registration method provided by the Patent & Trademark Office to record the date of conception.
This is not a patent.
Do you always need a prototype for your invention?
Well to start with, the answer is yes and no. At the same time, it depends on what your invention is and whether you can prove the concept without one.

Can you create a digital version that is good enough to convince a potential buyer?
The answer to this question is it depends on what the potential buyer needs to have it approved by their company.