Congratulations, inventor! You have succeeded in creating something that you believe other people are going to want. That is great and you deserve a big pat on the back. However, you are probably finding yourself wondering how you can ensure that you maintain ownership of your invention. How do you prove the invention is yours? Patent contests can be very serious matters, so it is smart to be aware. There are companies that find it is simpler to steal ideas from others and then fight the matter in court than it is to develop the idea in the first place. The best way to protect your invention is to cover it with a patent. A patent is a government granted monopoly which gives the inventor of a product the rights to exclude anyone else from making, using or selling the invention.

Patents are granted to give inventors incentive to create new and useful products, thus filtering money back into the economy and spurring its growth. However, it is not the government’s responsibility to enforce patents- that responsibility lies with the patented inventor. Patents last twenty years, after which the patented product will become public domain after if expires. That means that anyone else can make, use or sell your invention without paying you for it. Patents expire to protect the economy from monopolies. You are encouraged to do some online research on patents, monopolies, and the laws of supply and demand if you would like to learn more.

While patents are the best way to prove than an invention is yours, keep in mind that patents do have a few limitations. A patent is a government granted monopoly which allows the inventor to exclude anyone else from making, using or selling the invention claimed in the patent only in the country in which the patent is granted. Therefore, a patent valid in the United States still allows anyone in another country the right to use your invention for their personal gain. Secondly, remember that your patent covers everything in the "claim" section of your patent only. Writing your claims is the most important part of your patent. There are other things you can do to prove than an invention is yours- keep a journal throughout your creative process.

Be sure to track everything that you are doing to create and patent your invention in writing. Take pictures of your invention during the creative process- make sure the entire thing is recreated in photographs and writing. Also, if you can file a patent application covering certain aspects of your invention before the invented product is complete, consider doing so. Most importantly, never show your invention to anyone before it is patented in a public way. This can mean selling your invention, e-mailing the public about it, displaying it at trade shows, and more. Keeping your invention under wraps prior to it being patented is the best thing you can do to ensure that you are able to prove that the invention is yours.