This article was co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD. Clinton M. Sandvick worked as a civil litigator in California for over 7 years. He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 and his PhD in American History from the University of Oregon in 2013.
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If you have an invention that you think is marketable, you should consider applying for a patent. In the United States, you would apply for a domestic patent through the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Applying for a domestic patent is also the first step in applying for foreign patent rights, known as either a Paris Convention or a Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application. If you believe that your invention has a competitive market abroad, you should consider applying for foreign patents to protect your legal rights to your product in other countries.