• ...doing a computerised keyword patent search, you may consider the differences between words with same meanings but diferent spelling in the same family of languages (e.g. tyre - English vs. tire - American)
• ...most patent professionals offer a "rush" or expedited service for an additional fee
• ...for a small or medium sized business could be more advantageous to hire an independent contractor than to hire a specialised firm or agency services
• ...80% of all technical information appears only in patents
• ...a provisional application is occasionally a good patent tactic, but usually is not. The application must describe the invention in enough detail to enforce inventor's rights if disputes may rise before the patent will be granted
• ...the protection which a patent gives is defined by the "claims", which indicate what are the essential elements and features of the invention
• ...in every country, except Canada and the US, you must apply for a patent before there is any public disclosure of your idea
• ...the US Patent Office keeps a patent application secret until the patent is issued or rejected, at which point it becomes public information