Should you patent it?

1. 1. Has it been shown or described outside a confidentiality agreement?

   A demo, a pitch without an NDA, a crowdfunding page, a talk, a paper, a listing, a video, a forum post explaining how it works.

   No — it has been kept confidential Only under signed NDAs Yes, publicly — within the last 6 months Yes, publicly — more than 6 months ago I am not sure

2. 2. What is it, most accurately?

   Pick the closest. If two fit, pick the one a stranger would say describes it.

   A physical product, device, material, or a way of making something Software that controls hardware, processes a signal, or changes how the computer itself works An app, website or software feature — no hardware, no technical effect beyond running normally A business model, pricing scheme, marketplace design, or a way of organising a service A creative work — writing, art, music, game content, a visual design

3. 3. Have you checked whether it already exists?

   Patents, yes — but also products on sale, manuals, papers, videos and posts. All of it counts against novelty.

   Yes — searched properly, found nothing close Searched, and found things that are similar Not yet

4. 4. If a competitor copied it, could you tell from their product?

   A patent you cannot detect an infringement of is very hard to use.

   Yes — it would be visible or testable from outside Possibly, with some effort No — it would be hidden in their process or on their servers

5. 5. Could you fund a legal fight over it?

   A patent is a right to sue at your own expense. Nobody enforces it for you.

   Yes, or an investor or licensee would back it Maybe, against a serious infringer No

6. 6. How long before it is superseded?

   A UK patent commonly takes several years to grant.

   Five years or more Two to five years Under two years

Please answer every question — each one changes the result.