A brilliantly clear and up-to-date patent guide This bestselling primer is packed with everything inventors need to know about patent law basics, including current patent regulations, filing rules, and caselaw resulting from the America Invents Act, the most important change to American patent law in two centuries. Nolo's Patents for Beginners helps inventors: document an invention "read and write" patents understand how and why to make a patent search determine patent ownership acquire patent rights understand the basics of patent infringement get international patent protection, and decide whether to file a provisional patent. You'll also find patent and invention resources and a glossary of patent terms. This new edition is completely updated to cover all the latest changes in patent law and regulations.