01
What is invention harvesting?
Invention harvesting is a structured process for finding inventions a company has already made but never documented. It usually involves interviews with engineers, a review of recent work and a sorting of what is worth taking to counsel.
It is useful, but it only looks backward. It finds what already exists.
02
How is invention development different from harvesting?
Invention development looks forward. Instead of only collecting what engineers already built, it starts from your roadmap, products and competitors and deliberately creates new inventions: next products, extensions and process improvements the company has not built yet.
That is the work Idea Partnership does. We create inventions alongside your team, document them, and hand them to independent patent counsel.
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03
What goes into an invention disclosure?
A good disclosure describes the problem, the solution, how it works in enough detail to build, the alternatives you considered, who contributed and when, and anything that has already been shown publicly. Drawings help a lot.
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04
What does a provisional patent application do?
In the U.S., a provisional patent application can establish an early filing date. It is not examined and does not become a patent on its own. A non-provisional application generally must be filed within twelve months to pursue a patent, and it can only rely on the earlier date for what the provisional actually disclosed.
05
How many patents should a growth-stage company have?
There is no right number. Investors and acquirers tend to care more about whether the filings cover what actually differentiates the company and whether ownership is clean. A few well-chosen filings can matter more than a large count.
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06
Should we patent it or keep it a trade secret?
A common starting question: could a competitor learn the idea from your product? If yes, a patent is often worth discussing. If the idea is invisible from outside and you can protect it, a trade secret may fit. Counsel makes the final call.
07
Where does patent counsel fit?
Counsel handles everything legal: patentability opinions, drafting decisions, claims, filing and prosecution. Idea Partnership is not a law firm. We create and document the inventions and prepare the technical materials counsel works from.
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08
Which technology fields does this apply to?
We work across software and systems, hardware and electronics, semiconductors, mechanical and industrial technology, and medical devices.
Common questions
Is invention harvesting the same as an IP audit?
They overlap. An IP audit reviews what a company owns and how it is protected. Harvesting focuses on finding undocumented inventions. Invention development goes further and creates new ones.
Can a company create inventions on purpose?
Yes. Structured ideation starting from a company's roadmap, products and competitors can produce new inventions deliberately, rather than waiting for engineers to flag them.
Does Idea Partnership file patent applications?
No. Independent licensed patent counsel reviews, finalizes and files. We prepare the technical materials.
Have a question that is not here?
Bring it to a strategy call. We work with mid-market and larger technology companies building invention programs.
Schedule a Strategy CallIdea Partnership is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. This page is general information only. Consult licensed patent counsel about your specific situation.