So, you’re about to get started and you want to ensure that you have ownership and Federal recognition of your invention. What to do first, right now, before you contact an attorney? Start thinking about these items and collecting this information:

  Find out the Important Dates:
       When did you conceive of the invention?
       Have you built a prototype? If so when?
       Who else knows about the invention, when did they know?
       Have you offered the invention for sale, when?
       Have you published anything about your invention? When?

  Understand the Prior Art:
       Prior art is a legal term for something invented before you conceived of yours. You need to know who else has made something like your invention.
       Did you take an idea and make it better?