How to read a patent in 60 seconds

How to read the article in 5 seconds: Read the independent claims.

I don't really agree. Yes in some respects and for some purposes the independent claims are the most important parts of a patent, but reading only the independent claims is very different from reading a patent.<p>The specification and drawings are important as they, among other things, define the meaning of the claims. Usually, if you just skip ahead to the independent claims you will have no idea what the claims are talking about. This is especially true in the electronics/software/online arts where people tend to make up their terminology as they go along.

Also important: understanding the difference between a patent <i>application</i> and an actual issued patent. The rule of thumb is that if it has a number in the millions, like 6,123,456, then it's a patent. If it starts with a year, like 2008/1234567, then it's an application. The slash may or may not be omitted.

A good chunk of advice for the dirty, messy world that is patents.<p>Unrelated: its very cool to randomly stumble upon someone using a theme I compiled: <a href="http://midmodesign.com/news/general/our-special-wordpress-theme/" rel="nofollow">http://midmodesign.com/news/general/our-special-wordpress-th...</a> :-)

This approach does seem to cut to the heart of the matter... I have had a patent in the system for a while, and just to reassure myself, I read just the independent claims.<p>While reviewing my patent I have always become worn out by the time I get to reviewing the claims so I have always been a little wary of them (especially because I am used to being as precise as I can, but claims are written to be interpreted broadly).<p>Sure enough, when I looked this time, the claims spoke loudly to me. What needs to be there is there in the independent claims.

So. How would I identify the independent claims?

It is a little disturbing that the "code" of a patent (the claims) only takes about 30 seconds to read and the rest of the ream of paper is just comments and/or obfuscation. (Most likely the latter.)

Also, remember that the meaning of the words and phrases in the independent claims are subject to intense debate.

One other way: Post it to reddit denouncing it based on the title and read the top comment.

&#62; Someone’s claiming you’re infringing your patent!<p>Uh...good luck with that.

If you infringe the baby, you'll infringe the baby momma too.