Ask HN: How to file a patent?

Do hire a lawyer. I have spoken to many patent examiners and they agree that applications not written by professionals are very difficult to work with. You might still get a patent granted, but your claims won't necessarily have the optimum scope. The language is extraordinarily difficult to learn and it will take you an enormous amount of time to become competent - time you could spend more profitably elsewhere.<p>I would also recommend you get a search done before you go through the whole process of trying to get a patent, so you can see whether what you are trying to patent exists before you go through all the work (and cost) of getting an application written.<p>Also, beware: the patent gives you nothing unless you are willing to defend it. Seriously. If someone violates your patent you will need to sue them to get them to stop. And you'll need a lawyer for that too.

A good starting point is the Nolo book "Patent it Yourself". Best reference book for this matter I can recommend.

A provisional patent application or a real patent? PPA has less requirements and are cheaper to file to get temporary protection. Eventually you still need to file the real one after 1 year of filing PPA or 1 year of offering for sale... Read "Patent pending in 24 hrs" for PPA...