Reading patent texts: not a hobby, but smart business

Want to know exactly what a competitor has protected? Then sometimes it's unavoidable: you have to read through a patent text. Not the most enjoyable task, comparable to poring over the terms and conditions of your insurance policy. But it is important.

Reading a patent text can save you a lot of time, money, and headaches. It helps you avoid unintentional infringement and gives you insight into where you have room to position your own innovation.

Marco Coolen, photo © Bart van Overbeeke

How do you read a patent as an entrepreneur?

Let's be honest: preferably not. However, if you must, there are smart ways to approach it. I always use this quick method myself:

1. Start with the summary - The summary provides a concise overview of the invention's purpose. This often gives you a general idea of what is protected in just a few sentences.
2. Then read the claims - The claims are the most difficult to read, but they are the most important. They state exactly what the inventor wants to protect legally. Each claim, as it were, is a set of rules: if a competing product meets all the elements of a claim, there may be an infringement.
3. Finally, examine the figures and the description - Patent applications often include drawings. These make technical explanations much easier to understand. The description (especially around the figures) explains the most critical parts and methods. This section is usually less legal and more technical, making it easier to follow.

Extra tip: Use smart tools

Still can't figure it out? Then, using ChatGPT is not a bad idea, provided you have a published patent.

Copy the text into it and ask for a simple explanation. This will provide you with a quick working understanding of what is happening. However, be cautious: never use this for a draft of your own, unpublished application. This could damage your own protection.

Keep smiling (and reward yourself)

Don't be discouraged if you feel like you're reading Latin. Most patent texts are not literary masterpieces. They are intended to provide the broadest possible protection and are therefore often unnecessarily complicated.

The secret? Keep smiling. Have a cup of coffee now and then, cross things out, make sketches, and treat yourself to something nice once you're done.

Save yourself the hassle

Reading patent texts may not be the most enjoyable part of doing business, but it can save you a lot of hassle. By reading smartly—first the summary, then the claims, then the figures—you will quickly gain insight into exactly what is protected.

And who knows, you may even discover a niche where you can cleverly position your innovation. That's more than worth the struggle.