An inventor is anyone who makes an inventive contribution to the invention as claimed in the patent application.

Individuals and their relationship to an invention generally fall within three groups.

1. Anyone who contributes a basic idea that results in the invention as it is being claimed. This also includes persons who, in the development process, contribute novel ideas leading to the mechanical translation of an idea (of someone else) into a physical object.
2. On the other hand, anyone who contributes only labor, supervision of routine techniques, or other non-mental contributions, should not be considered as inventor.
3. Contributions related to the idea, but not to the claimed inventions, cannot be seen as entitlements for inventorship.

Table of Contents

1. Who is an Inventor
2. Patents and Patent Classes
3. Goals of Patent Search
4. Benefits From Patent Search
5. Keywords: Before You Start!
6. How to Search
7. Tips, Tricks, and Observations