Pranita Dharmadhikari, founder and CEO of Innocelf, is a member of TechTown Detroit’s Professional Services Network and volunteers her time through our Ask an Expert program. Here, she shares tips for entrepreneurs to patent their ideas.
Patenting your innovations can be tedious, especially when you aren’t sure where to start. Pranita Dharmadhikari, the visionary behind Innocelf, serves as founder and CEO of this intellectual property research firm. With over a decade of experience spanning diverse industries, her intellectual property rights (IP) expertise is unparalleled. With advanced degrees in pharmaceuticals and patent law, Dharmadhikari adeptly navigates the complex world of patents, guiding strategic decisions for businesses seeking to safeguard their innovations. Her systematic approach to researching patent information enables her to pinpoint potential patent infringements and assess the novelty of inventions with precision.
Beyond her role at Innocelf, Dharmadhikari is an active volunteer within our Professional Services Network. Here, she generously shares her knowledge and expertise on various facets of patent research and the process. Pranita is currently available for free 25-minute consultations through TechTown’s Ask an Expert program.
Safeguard your work
To succeed in today’s competitive world, inventors must patent their ideas and inventions.
Patenting is essential to protecting your intellectual property and increasing the value of your business. By obtaining a patent, you establish your ownership rights over your invention, which can help you prevent others from copying or using it without your permission. This exclusivity can be a significant advantage in a competitive market. It can also enhance your credibility, attract investors and increase your business’s valuation. Moreover, having a patent portfolio can generate licensing revenue and provide opportunities for partnerships and collaborations, further increasing your business’s value.
However, the lengthy, complex, and often confusing process of obtaining a patent can frustrate many inventors.
Here, Dharmadhikari shares tips on patenting to help inventors get started.
Pranita Dharmadhikari’s tips for beginning the patent process
- Documenting your idea: Documenting your invention is crucial as it is evidence of your intellectual property ownership. Proper documentation makes it easier to establish yourself as the inventor if someone else claims your invention as their own. Additionally, maintaining good documentation will simplify the process if you plan to license or sell your invention.
- Decide what’s yours: To file a patent, you must understand what you’re inventing. Conducting a patent search is the best way to ensure your invention is unique and doesn’t violate existing patents. This step will help you identify what elements of your inventions are crucial to get a patent grant.
- Decide on the type of patent application: There are three primary types of patents: utility, design and plant. Utility patents are granted for new and useful processes, machines, articles of manufacture, compositions of matter and their improvements. Design patents protect the ornamental design of functional objects. Plant patents cover new and unique varieties of asexually reproduced plants.
Pranita Dharmadhikari is a volunteer member of TechTown Detroit’s Professional Services Network. If you’re seeking guidance on protecting your ideas and inventions, book a free, 25-minute Ask an Expert appointment with Dharmadhikari today!
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