Innovation drives demand for new app ideas, even with the mass of existing mobile applications. But what if someone else has your idea or creates a mobile app with the same features before you plan your launch? You lose credibility, and your prospects of success get reduced. It is where patenting an app idea plays a vital role.
Every business must patent, copyright, or trademark mobile app ideas to prevent others from stealing their unique app idea. If you want to Patent an App Idea, you may have a lot of queries, such as how to patent a mobile app idea. Read below to get answers to your quarries:
What is Patenting an App Idea?
Patenting is a law that protects an original product or concept. It prevents the idea or product from being stolen, copied, and used. It also ensures that no one profits from claiming or selling your idea. Patenting an App Idea grants you the authority to claim ownership of your invention, establishing you as the official proprietor.
What Makes You Eligible for Patenting Your App Idea?
The following factors will influence the eligibility of app ideas:
1. Invention
According to the World Intellectual Property Organisation, patents for inventions that solve existing problems. And whether or not your idea is a solution to any problem will influence the app’s success.
2. Original and New
When evaluating an invention, you must ensure it is something new. Even if your app solves the problem, there should be no similar ideas on the market. It covers articles, pending patent concepts, books, and other sources.
3. Useful to Society
Your app should be valuable to the users. It should fix users’ difficulties and make them rely on them. It does not stop your app from being in the entertainment or gaming categories.
To Patent an App Idea, it should be valuable to the intended audience.
How to Patent an App Idea?
To protect mobile app ideas, follow these patenting steps:
1. Select Patent Type
If you have a mobile app idea, you can apply for patents for different aspects of your app. Primarily two types of patents you can file for your mobile app idea:
- Utility Patents: A utility patent primarily protects the functionality of your ideas, such as unique procedures, improvements, mechanics, and technicalities. You can file utility patents for outstanding parts of mobile apps such as features, algorithms, processes and functionalities, hardware integrations, data structures, etc.
- Design Patents: The unique characteristics of mobile app UI/UX design and logo design are patentable to safeguard an invention’s visual appeal.
2. Conduct Detailed Patent Research
Conduct extensive research on your app idea to determine whether it already exists on the market and is patented. Conduct global research to avoid infringement by other companies. Having no other similar application or Patent will boost the chances of your Patent getting awarded quickly.
3. Crafting App Patent Applications
You can start the patent application procedure once you know your app idea is not already patented. Provide extensive details about your app in the application to check whether your app idea is innovative and new.
4. Non-Provisional or Provisional Patent Filing
It is time to apply for a patent when you have filled out all the data about your invention in the application. To get the Patent, apply to the appropriate government bodies. It may take several years and rounds of scrutiny to process to patent of an App Idea.
5. Swift and Effective Office Action Responses
Once you’ve paid for your application, the patent examiner will review it. Sometimes, the examiner may issue a written office action seeking additional input on your application. You may be required to provide further explanations or adjust your submitted application in response to this request. Responding promptly and accurately to the action request is crucial to avoid any delays in the process.
6. Post-Patent Maintenance
If your patent application is approved, you need to maintain it regularly. You must pay specific amounts monthly or annually to keep your app patent active.
Getting a patent for your software might be time-consuming. But if you follow the Mobile app patent process given here, you can do the entire patenting process easily.
Types of Mobile App Ideas that Can be Patented
Remember, when contemplating patenting a mobile app, every unique idea does not qualify for a patent. Hence, explore here some mobile app ideas that are eligible for patents:
1. AR/VR Apps
AR/VR technology in mobile app development has established a thriving presence in the digital world. Therefore, AR/VR games with creative methods of overlaying and interacting with digital information and imaginative ways of immersing people in its universe can be eligible for patent protection.
2. Mobile Gaming Apps
If your mobile game features new gameplay concepts, mechanics, and styles, it can be eligible for a patent.
3. Apps for Health Care
Regarding healthcare and medical apps, you must be highly innovative with their usability and the tremendous benefits they can bring to the healthcare world.
4. Enterprise Apps
It is the most significant personalized mobile app on which your business depends. You have created an outstanding mobile app solution that can enhance your company’s efficiency and help you automate many of your repetitive duties.
Thus, patenting is the most effective solution for protecting productivity and making app monetization strategies.
5. Education and Learning Apps
It is essential to know that not all eLearning mobile apps are patentable. The eLearning should have unique ways to educate users about patents.
6. IoT Apps
Your IoT and embedded mobile app that provides unique controls, monitoring, data gathering, processing, or other things must automate and assist in people’s tasks.
7. Apps for Social Networking
If you have a unique social networking app idea that you don’t want anybody else to steal and turn into the next big social media corporation, patenting is a suitable option.
Why Should You Patent an App Idea?
If you Patent an App Idea, it provides you with many advantages, including:
1. Competitive Advantage
In the app industry, innovation is generally considered a success element. Your patent protection for that innovation gives you the competitive advantage of being the first to bring it to life.
2. Digital Asset Protection
Even if your digital asset is still under development, you can protect it with a provisional patent. Once you have complete patent protection, you can enjoy compensation for damages, grievances, infringement, and more.
3. Market Advantages
You can differentiate yourself from your competitors by developing a patented mobile app. You can use this chance to convince investors, partners, and clients to check out your services.
4. Opportunity for Licencing
With patent protection, you can even license it under the names of corporations or people. It allows them to use your mobile app concept in exchange for licensing fees or royalties. Therefore, you can use this licensing opportunity to add to your income.
Final thoughts
Effectively patent your app idea by following the given procedures. The next stage is to develop the app when the Patent is approved. You must contact a Mobile app development company that can give life to your app ideas.