If you believe your app will generate profit based on considerable market research you’ve made on the idea then the answer to that question is an astounding YES.
The mobile app industry in recent years has grown significantly in market value in such a short time with so many mobile apps being released that makes our life easier, solves a problem or revolutionize our way of life. If you have a mobile app idea that you believe in that is unique and guaranteed to generate profit then this article will provide three reasons why you should patent it:
1) Mobile apps are incredibly easy to replicate. A patent discourages unscrupulous parties to steal your idea.
If you have a good mobile app idea then it might be ripped off by parties looking to make a quick buck off your creation’s idea.
Remember when Flappy Birds was popular in 2014? That app spawned many many copycats such as Flappy Wings, Splashy Fish and Hoppy Frog.
You don’t want that to happen to your beloved mobile app creation.
As such, if you have a good mobile app idea then it is crucial that you consider patent protection for that app as patents demonstrates to the public that your invention is recognized by the law as your own property and your creation. This means copycat developers will have to think twice before they develop an app copying your app idea.
2) Patent protection of your app gives you legal powers to persue legal action
If you believe your app can generate more than $20,000 profits from just the idea itself then you ought to owe it yourself to consider all the legal protections available for your app.
Patent protection is one of these forms of legal protection guaranteed to give you legal ownership of your app and legal powers to persue legal action against others who rip off your app.
3) Patent protection can potentially reduce app development costs
App developers worldwide routinely quote between $50 – $120,000 in development funds to code a mobile app. However with a patent protection certificate you can save money by reducing or eliminating these costs through a joint venture partnership (JV).
A JV is a business contract in which two or more parties agree to combine their resources and knowledge in order to accomplish a specific task (like developing your mobile app).
A patent protection certificate nine out of ten times encourages interested parties to join your app development startup in exchange for “sweat equity” granted by a JV and because these parties see that the law recognises your app as your creation.
Interested parties can include investors, marketers and developers who can work with you in exchange for equity to fully flesh out your app. This effectively reduces or eliminates costs instead of recruiting a mobile app developer whose skills vary and can often charge more than they need to.
Should I patent every mobile app idea I come up with?
Not all software is sadly patentable. A patents examiner can just as easily see your app as another business method or an app that is too much of an abstract concept.
However, you’ll be surprised what gets patented these days. That’s the beauty of intellectual property and our species’ ability to create anything.
After all, patent protection for mobile apps is a new field of patent law that is constantly evolving and shifting. As such, it is crucial that you seek an appointment with a patent attorney who specialises in software to determine if a patent specification for your app is the right thing for you as long as you have throughly analysed your profit margins and strategy as well as the three patent protection considerations above.
Have you considered what it takes to launch the app, how many app sales are needed to make a profit and whether you need to seek investment avenues to fund your mobile app’s development and other considerations?
At Partners Law Group, we have attorneys that specialise in IP strategy and software patenting. We know IP and we can help answer your problems or any questions you may have regarding patents for your app or any other inventions, brands or IP you may have.
If you believe you have that mobile app idea that can change the world and is commercially viable, speak to us and let’s work together to see what we can do to help.
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Cover photo from Gorodenkoff found on Shutterstock.