An encyclopedia of invention
Everything an inventor needs to know.
218 articles, 31 country guides, 9 templates and a step-by-step journey — the open editorial reference for inventors building intellectual property. Free. Forever.
218
Articles
31
Country Guides
30
Walkthroughs
9
Templates
The library
Six ways in
Whether you want to read, plan, do, or look something up — the way in matches the way you think.
01
Reference
The Encyclopedia
Every concept, in plain language. Browse by topic or country, search across 218 entries, find the answer in seconds.
Browse
218 articles
02
Step by step
The Journey
Ten stages from the first sketch to a granted, scaled portfolio. Tap any stage to see the articles, walkthroughs and templates that belong to it.
Begin
10 stages
03
Do it yourself
The Checklist
Eighty actions, eleven stages, every deadline that can lose you rights forever. Check items off as you go — your progress saves automatically.
Open
80 actions
04
Practical
How-To Walkthroughs
Thirty step-by-step guides — the exact actions, in the exact order, for every common patent task you can do yourself.
Read
30 walkthroughs
05
Look it up
Glossary & Who's Who
One hundred and thirty-four patent terms in plain English, plus a Who's Who of the people, offices and institutions you'll meet on the way.
Define
134 terms
06
Belong
The Community Compact
An editorial community of practice for solo inventors. Free to join, lawyer-friendly, no funnels — a place to ask, share and contribute.
Join
Free, forever
Most inventors have the idea.
What they lack is the map.
iInvent is the map.
Our editorial position
The journey
Ten stages from idea to scale.
The path is the same for every inventor. We've written it down so no one has to walk it blind.
01
Capturing the Idea
Document, disclose, secure
02
Searching Prior Art
Patentability & landscape
03
Locking Down Confidentiality
NDAs, contracts, IP ownership
04
Finding an Attorney
Choose & engage counsel
05
Filing the Patent
Applications & filing strategy
06
Going International
PCT & country filings
07
Building a Prototype
Prototype, test, manufacture
08
Responding to Examination
Office actions & grant
09
Licensing & Selling
Commercialise, license, enforce
10
Scaling the Portfolio
Portfolio strategy & growth
Year one — free, forever
An open reference for inventors. Built in public.
We're publishing the entire iInvent library — encyclopedia, journey, checklist, walkthroughs, glossary, templates — at no cost in 2026. Read it. Use it. Send a fix.