Early and Often? This is not Voting in Chicago.

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File patents early and often.  At least the patent attorney will make some money.

We look at this advice and poke holes in it. 

Every word in a patent hurts you.

There is a huge tradeoff when you file patents.  Are you getting a good bargain?  Are you giving away too much and getting too little in return?

The specification is the long-winded explanation of your invention, where you tell the world how to build your product, what your next several versions will be, and all your R&D secrets.

This is the part that you GIVE AWAY – not what is “protected.”

Your protection is the Claims – that hard-to-read section in the back.  You only get protection for what is in the claims – this is what you RECEIVE – this is your protection.

Giving away your most valuable secrets while getting nothing back is not a smart thing.