An encyclopedia of invention

The Inventor's Checklist.

Eleven stages, every action in order, nothing missed — with templates and resources at every critical step.

Tap any stage to expand its actions. Check items off as you complete them — your progress saves automatically.

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iInvent Patent Journey Checklist — 80 action items across 11 stages, 31 marked critical. All content is free to read, cite, and use under CC-BY 4.0.

Stage 01: Capturing the Idea

Document, disclose, secure

Write a clear description of the problem your invention solves
Document how your invention works — mechanism, components, steps — Download Invention Disclosure Form
List every alternative embodiment and variation you can think of [Critical]
Create sketches or drawings — label every component with a number
Date and sign your inventor's record (digital or physical notebook)
Do not disclose to anyone without a signed NDA [Critical] — Download NDA Template
Do not post anything about the invention on social media [Critical]

Patentability & landscape

Search Google Patents using a natural-language description of your invention — Open Google Patents
Extract CPC/IPC classification codes from the most relevant results — Browse CPC codes on Espacenet
Search by classification codes — finds what keywords miss [Critical]
Check Amazon and Alibaba for existing products matching your concept — Search Alibaba
Search YouTube for demonstrations of similar concepts
Search non-patent literature (Google Scholar, IEEE, industry journals) — Open Google Scholar
Document every relevant reference found — use the Search Report template — Download Search Report Template
Assess: is the invention clearly distinguishable from what already exists? [Critical]

Is it worth patenting?

Choose & engage counsel

Identify two or three patent attorneys with experience in your technology area
Verify registration at the relevant patent office registry [Critical] — USPTO Practitioner Search
Schedule initial consultation — bring invention docs and prior art results
Obtain a written fee estimate covering provisional through grant
Ask: how many patents have you prosecuted in my technology area?
Check Chambers & Partners or IAM Patent 1000 rankings if available — Chambers IP Rankings
Engage attorney and sign a written engagement letter

Secure your priority date

Draft a comprehensive provisional — every embodiment, alternative, and drawing [Critical]
Include draft claims (optional but strongly recommended)
File at patent office (USPTO, IP Australia, India IPO, or equivalent) [Critical] — USPTO Patent Center
Record filing date, application number, and confirmation number
You may now use 'Patent Pending' on products and materials

Miss these and rights are lost forever

Set a reminder at month 11 — last safe date to file PCT or foreign nationals [Critical]
Set a reminder at month 12 — provisional expires; non-provisional must be filed [Critical]
Decide target jurisdictions — where will you manufacture, where will you sell? [Critical]
Research grace period rules for each target country (EU, GCC, China have none) [Critical]
Budget for PCT filing ($4,000–$8,000) and/or direct foreign filings
If China is a target — consider filing a Chinese utility model before sharing designs with any manufacturer [Critical] — CNIPA (China Patent Office)
Sign up for a deadline management tool or spreadsheet to track all dates

Build, test, refine in the 12-month window

Sign NDA + Prototype Development Agreement with IP assignment clause before sharing any designs [Critical] — Download Prototype Agreement
Build a proof-of-concept prototype
Test and document performance results
Document all improvements discovered during prototyping — these go into the non-provisional [Critical]
Obtain independent test data if possible — strengthens patent and licensing position
Assess manufacturing feasibility and estimate production costs

Before the 12-month deadline expires

Commission a professional prior art search ($500–$2,000)
Draft a non-provisional specification incorporating prototype learnings [Critical]
Draft claims — broad independent claims plus layered dependent claims [Critical]
Prepare formal patent drawings (professional illustrator recommended)
File the non-provisional application claiming priority from the provisional [Critical]
File a PCT application if international protection is planned [Critical] — WIPO ePCT Filing Portal
File directly in your manufacturing jurisdiction if not using the PCT route

The 30-month window — manage it or lose it

Calculate the 30-month national phase deadline from your earliest priority date [Critical]
Set a reminder at month 28 — begin national phase preparations (translations, local counsel) [Critical]
Engage local patent attorneys in each target jurisdiction
Arrange certified translations of the specification for each jurisdiction
Enter national phase in each target country before month 30 [Critical] — WIPO PCT Time Limits Reference
Consider Track One (US) or PACE (EPO) for accelerated examination
If US patent grants first — file PPH requests at EPO, CNIPA, KIPO, JPO — Global PPH Portal
File examination requests where required (Japan: 3 yrs, Korea: 3 yrs, Indonesia: 36 mo) [Critical]
Set annual maintenance/renewal fee reminders for every jurisdiction [Critical]

Navigate examination to allowance

Monitor for office actions — respond promptly, do not wait for the deadline
Read the cited prior art yourself before your attorney responds — Look up cited references on Google Patents
Request an examiner interview for complex rejections
Argue before amending — amendments narrow scope permanently [Critical]
File a continuation application before the parent patent grants [Critical]
Pay grant or issue fees when patent is allowed
Set reminders — US maintenance at 3.5, 7.5, 11.5 years; annual fees in EP/CN/JP/KR [Critical]

Turn protection into income

Mark products with patent number (required for past damages in the US) [Critical]
Record patent assignment at each patent office if owned by a company — USPTO Assignment Recordation
Prepare a licensing package — technology brief, claims chart, market data
Identify potential licensees — companies in your space and their competitors
Send a cease-and-desist if infringement is identified (through patent counsel)
Use the Patent Licence Agreement template for licensing negotiations — Download Licence Agreement
Use the Patent Assignment template if selling the patent — Download Assignment Template
Sign a Co-Inventor Agreement if co-ownership exists — Download Co-Inventor Agreement
If manufacturing — sign a Manufacturing Agreement with IP protections — Download Manufacturing Agreement
Register a trademark for your product brand
Review portfolio annually — maintain what has value, abandon what does not