What patent procedures will a attorney pursue for me? How?

This is an excellent question! The first question that a potential funding source will ask you is "Do you have Patent Protection?" A Patent Attorney will seek to protect all intellectual property rights (Patents, Copyrights, Trade Secrets, and Trademarks) to your technology (both U.S. and foreign rights), if you are interested in global protection. In addition, the Patent Attorney will obtain all of the patent rights that you are entitled to, at an affordable price. If you are seeking to launch, the Patent Attorney can direct you to resources specializing in developing business plans and licensing your technology or otherwise finding a funding source, but these latter functions are generally beyond the Patent function. Good luck and I hope that this helps.

A patent attorney or agent will assist you in preparing the patent application, including researching whether similar or identical inventions already exist, drafting the application form, arranging for the requisite schematics and drawings, and submitting the application. He or she will also defend your idea against any objections the patent examiner or another company with a similar patent may present. Patent attorneys or agents may assist with the marketing but usually only in terms of drawing up licenses and contracts. You can market the product yourself or hire a marketing company to help you.

A patent attorney is like a taxi driver - he or she will take you anywhere your money will take you - as each task has a cost. Research of your idea is free for you to do - visit the US Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) website - www.uspto.gov. The site is full of background information and search areas - use key words and look at the patents that have been granted. You can also search applications that have been published - 18 months after they were filed in the USPTO. GOOD LUCK!

It depends on the patent attorney and the the attorney's background and their capabilities. Most competent attorneys will guide you through the patenting process. Usually, an attorney will not market anything for you, but an experienced attorney might help contact potential licensees and negotiate licensing and/or sale of patent rights for you. Experience is extremely important to do this well. A very few patent attorneys have deep scientific/technical roots and might assist/suggest research and development directions. For this, look for an attorney with advanced degrees in science/engineering and deep experience working in industry, startups, and/or R&D.

Most patent attorneys focus on the patent and the patent research and do not get involved in the marketing (other than helping with trademark protection).