Rating: 
Summary: Priceless!
Review: It is really the best patent book I ever seen. On contrary to
what most think from the title, it is not only the book that can help you to file a patent yourself, but also can help you really if you are planning to hire a patent attorney to file a patent for you. As an old saying says, all lawyers [are bad]. This book can help you avoid cheatings from lawyers. One lawyer even tries to cheat me by persuading me to apply for PPA. Only after reading the book did I really understand what PPA means and what's the difference from RPA. After reading this book, I really found there is no need to hire a lawyer to file a patent, especially when you want to file a PPA. The book is informative and detailed enought for anyone who know English to file a patent himself.
Rating:
Summary: Don't fire your attorney just because you read this book
Review: One area where I see this book being extremely helpful is in understanding what an attorney needs from the inventor. With a new inventor it can take forever to get the right language to put into an application. If you've read this book though you have a clearer understanding that the whole idea is taking technical language and creating a legal document. If you know the specifics and the structure of the application, preparing yourself to be most efficient with your attorney time is a great way to save on attorney bills the smart way. Having the examples ready, knowing what drawings might be required and understanding what others have already done is nothing but helpful in the process.That being said, the intellectual property world has many twists and turns through the process that really only someone with experiences can accurately assess. The slightest mistake in a fork in the road can mean the difference between success and failure, spending a fortune or losing it. So although this book really is excellent (spoken from experience) it cannot replace good counsel. Filing patent applications and engaging in the process of prosecuting them can be expensive anyway, with or without a lawyer. For many steps in the process having a lawyer can save you money by steering you away from expensive, unnesessary searches. Once you have a patent it doesn't mean you're free and clear to market your invention either. Licensing and cross licensing can be tricky. International circles of intellectual property law have even more hidden quagmires to circumnavigate. Many lawyers are so highly specialized that negotiating license agreements is all they do. Royalty structures can be complicated and only experience can provide the most comprehensive contracts. Having an attorney provides great leverage just in presence as well. They know how to ask the right questions and for the most part won't waste alot of time. So bottom line is this helps immensely in making the process smoother and more efficient but don't fire your lawyer if you want to be sure you make the most of whatever you created. Most highly recommended, this new edition has important, substantive additions that reflect changes in the law.
Rating:
Summary: Don't fire your attorney just because you read this book
Review: One area where I see this book being extremely helpful is in understanding what an attorney needs from the inventor. With a new inventor it can take forever to get the right language to put into an application. If you've read this book though you have a clearer understanding that the whole idea is taking technical language and creating a legal document. If you know the specifics and the structure of the application, preparing yourself to be most efficient with your attorney time is a great way to save on attorney bills the smart way. Having the examples ready, knowing what drawings might be required and understanding what others have already done is nothing but helpful in the process. That being said, the intellectual property world has many twists and turns through the process that really only someone with experiences can accurately assess. The slightest mistake in a fork in the road can mean the difference between success and failure, spending a fortune or losing it. So although this book really is excellent (spoken from experience) it cannot replace good counsel. Filing patent applications and engaging in the process of prosecuting them can be expensive anyway, with or without a lawyer. For many steps in the process having a lawyer can save you money by steering you away from expensive, unnesessary searches. Once you have a patent it doesn't mean you're free and clear to market your invention either. Licensing and cross licensing can be tricky. International circles of intellectual property law have even more hidden quagmires to circumnavigate. Many lawyers are so highly specialized that negotiating license agreements is all they do. Royalty structures can be complicated and only experience can provide the most comprehensive contracts. Having an attorney provides great leverage just in presence as well. They know how to ask the right questions and for the most part won't waste alot of time. So bottom line is this helps immensely in making the process smoother and more efficient but don't fire your lawyer if you want to be sure you make the most of whatever you created. Most highly recommended, this new edition has important, substantive additions that reflect changes in the law.
Rating: 
Summary: FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS! IT WORKS!
Review: Pressman has done it again. Taken a complex legal system and made it understandable. Follow his step by step recommendations, and a patent will follow. All the "mombo jumbo" is gone and replaced with readable language, not jargon.
Rating:
Summary: Patent It Yourself by Pressman
Review: This book inspired me to take and pass the Fundamentals of
Engineering Examination which is the step precedent to
qualifying for the Agent exam or employment in the Patent Office.
The author explains how to draw an invention to statutory
specification and claim the "unobvious" elements. The
definition of unobviousness is a legal nightmare. Pressman
facilitates understanding of the concept.
He explains that:
1. An invention must succeed where others fail.
2. It must solve a problem never before recognized.
3. It must solve a problem thought to be unsolvable or
impractical to implement.
4. It must attain or be capable of attaining commercial success.
5. It is classified in a crowded art where even a small
improvement means a lot.
6. It omits an element without losing functionality or
engineering throughput.
7. It contains a modification not suggested in prior art.
8. It provides an advantage never before recognized.
9. It provides an operative result where past attempts failed.
10. It successfully implements an ancient idea. i.e. time machine
11. It fulfills a long-felt need in practice or industry.
12. It runs contrary to the teachings of prior art. i.e. It defies gravity or teaches scientific principles
which contradict known principles i.e. Newton's laws Usually, art must have at least one or more of the above
characteristics. In addition, the examiner must be convinced
that the implement can be built or converted to
commercialization. Applications qualifying on these criteria
are approved provided that a rigorous search does not turn up
prior art. Pressman provides copies of the relevant
Patent Office forms and fee schedules. In addition, he
lists the patent library collections in each state together
with the contact numbers.There is an exhaustive section
on patent vocabulary and claims formulation. This book is
a gold mine. It is worth 5 times the price of admission.
I recommend writing your patent application and showing the
first try to a patent attorney until you become proficient.
In complex cases, you may need to file continuation in part
applications to get an allowance. In any event, this work
will help you deal more effectively with the PTO or an attorney.
In addition, this work will help you argue in court utilizing
the precise "unobviousness" terminology of the PTO.
You must know that a case is rarely allowed by the PTO in a
first review. Usually, there is at least an initial report
disallowing specific aspects which must be overcome. This process
requires that you "dig" into the unobviousness rules and
prove your case to the examiner. If you can't prove the case
(usually after two tries) , a continuation in part application
may be necessary to add more features in order to distinguish
your invention from the current art. The author teaches
how to write the optimal claim which encapsules your
invention into the most all-inclusive mode in practical
application. Lastly, you may be required to describe the
operation of the invention in its preferred mode. Pressman
helps you to formulate any device into a working model or
prototype which can be emulated in practice by an ordinary
practitioner in the scientific art. If you look on the internet,
there are engineering firms which will build a model to
specification for a price. After having stated all of the above, you must realize that
there is absolutely no way you can read the legal code and
glean all of these rules yourself. Hence, it is easy to see
why Pressman's work is so valuable. It is valuable to
an inventor, law school student or even a patent attorney.
Good luck and don't file a patent application without first
reading this book or one like it.
Rating:
Summary: Detailed, Informative, and very fun to read
Review: This is a truly excellent Book. The author guides the applicant carefully through every step of a patent application, unscrambles the legalese into easy to understand terms, and then provides the legal vocabulary again to create professional sounding patent applications. This book is very useful for inventors whith any level of legal knowledge, from the total beginner to the seasoned inventor with multiple patents. Even professional patent attourneys might learn a few new tricks from this book. The author also covers all aspects of securing inventions, from the decision to patent with respect to the financial benefits, to the patent application, marketing, international patents, and licensing and infingement problems. He points out frequently made errors and gives lots of tips and tricks. A truly excellent book for inventors of all types. (This review refers to the 8th edition)
| 
