invention-intake

Screening an invention disclosure for patent triage involves assessing novelty, obviousness, section 101 eligibility, bar dates, detectability, and strategic fit to recommend whether to pursue, investigate, or decline. The process applies to software, hardware, biotech, and mechanical inventions.

Preliminary patent triage is an early screening of invention disclosures to identify risks before investing in prior-art searches or patent counsel. You need it when evaluating new submissions to avoid premature patentability conclusions and catch urgent filing bar dates.

Yes, patent triage screening applies to AI and machine learning inventions, as well as software, hardware, biotech, mechanical, and business-related inventions. It evaluates section 101 eligibility, novelty signals, and detectability specific to these technology areas.

Assessing public disclosure bar dates requires collecting the invention's conception date and public disclosure history during structured intake. The screening flags time-sensitive warnings and urgent filing risks to prevent losing patent rights due to statutory deadlines.

Deciding between a patent or trade secret requires evaluating detectability, strategic value, and section 101 eligibility during screening. The resulting triage memo provides a PURSUE, INVESTIGATE, or DECLINE recommendation to guide this intellectual property protection choice.

Preliminary invention screening identifies risks but avoids premature conclusions about patentability and does not replace registered patent practitioner review. It produces open questions and routes matters to specialists rather than providing final legal patentability determinations.