When US Patent laws changed in 2013, priority was given to the first-to-file, not the first-to-invent, meaning any company gearing up to enter the market.

What does this mean for entrepreneurs?

Before you sell ANYTHING, you must to file a patent. As far the US Government is concerned, operating or selling your invention prior to 1 year of filing your patent application constitutes a public use, and bars you from getting a patent for that invention.

Now for the fun part. Since all companies MUST file before any invention becomes a reality, it’s pretty simple to see exactly what everyone’s up to, for they will leave a trail of paperwork full of their intentions. We’ve seen this pattern of patents leading market activity repeated over and over – in every commercial sector, from mobile payments to cryptocurrency.

Find out where the opportunities lie in your industry – and which competitors post the biggest threat to your company with our Patent Forecast™ Subscriptions. Just select your sector of interest here.