Building a Business Empire with my Technological System

Chapter 53 Patent Application

Of course, before going to the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, Michael went home, grabbed the solar panel, and then booked a Grab which will then take him to the Taguig office.

The journey took about one hour and thirty minutes and as soon as he arrived, Michael paid the fare and stepped out of the vehicle. He craned his neck up at the skyscraper of the IPO, it was tall, and he didn't expect a government agency building would be like that. Nevertheless, he walked forward and the guard standing by the main entrance, extended his arms forward, signaling him to stop.

"Uhm…I'm here to file my invention for a patent," Michael explained, holding the model of his solar panel securely under his arm.

The guard, dressed in a crisp white uniform, looked at Michael with a blend of curiosity and formality. "Ah, you're here for patent filing? You'll need to go to the reception desk inside. They'll guide you on the specifics. I'm just here to ensure security, so I can't provide much detail on the process. But don't worry, the folks inside are very helpful."

Michael nodded, appreciating the guard's straightforwardness. "Thanks for pointing me in the right direction," he said, stepping past the security checkpoint after a routine bag check.

The guard gave him a nod and a slight smile, "Good luck with your invention. Hope it goes well for you."

With a grateful smile, Michael headed inside. Inside, it was like your typical office lobby, with white marble floors and a clean, modern design. He quickly found the reception desk, which was manned by a friendly receptionist wearing a smart uniform.

"I'm here to file a patent for my invention," Michael said to the receptionist, setting his solar panel model on the counter.

The receptionist smiled and nodded. "You'll need to fill out some forms and provide a detailed description of your invention, including how it works and what makes it unique. Do you have all the necessary documentation with you?"

Michael pulled out a folder from his bag, filled with paperwork, diagrams, and technical specifications of his solar panel. "Yes, I've got everything here. I've also brought a prototype of my invention for reference."

"Perfect," the receptionist replied, handing him a number and directing him to the waiting area. "Once your number is called, you'll meet with one of our patent officers who will review your application and guide you through the next steps."

Michael thanked the receptionist and took a seat in the waiting area, his mind racing with anticipation and a bit of nervousness. This was the first big step towards turning his invention into a viable product and protecting it from being copied. He reviewed his documents one last time, ensuring everything was in order, while he waited for his number to be called.

The waiting area was relatively quiet, with a few other inventors and entrepreneurs sitting around, all absorbed in their paperwork or lost in thought. After about thirty minutes, Michael's number was called. He stood up, gathered his documents, and followed the instructions to the patent officer's office. The officer, a middle-aged man with a friendly demeanor, greeted him warmly and gestured for him to sit down.

"Let's take a look at what you've brought," the patent officer said, indicating for Michael to begin his presentation. Michael unfolded his documents, explained the workings of his solar panel, and detailed its efficiency and innovative features. The officer listened attentively, occasionally asking clarifying questions or noting down information.

Once Michael had finished, the officer leaned back in his chair, nodding approvingly. "It seems like you've done your homework, Mr. Reyes. Your invention certainly appears to have potential. We'll need to conduct a thorough review, including a search for any existing patents that might be similar to your invention. This process can take some time, but we'll keep you updated on our findings and next steps."

"How long is it going to take?" The patent officer paused for a moment before answering, "The review process can vary. It typically takes a few months to conduct a comprehensive search and evaluate the uniqueness of your invention against existing patents. If everything goes smoothly, and no significant issues arise, you could receive a decision on your patent application within six to twelve months."

"What the? Six to twelve months? No way I can't wait that long. Is there any way we can expedite the process?" "Well…there is always a way," the patent officer said, giving him a glance telling that he should make an under-the-table deal. "However, such expedited processes are not officially sanctioned and involve... additional considerations."

Michael understood the implication. He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice. "If hypothetically, those additional considerations could significantly shorten the timeline, what are we talking about here?"

The officer glanced around discreetly before leaning in as well. "Hypothetically, for a... priority review, one might consider a facilitation fee. It's not official, of course, but it could ensure your application gets immediate attention."

"And hypothetically, what would this facilitation fee be?"

"Let's say... fifty thousand pesos might make the process smoother and faster. Again, this is purely hypothetical and off the record," the officer added, with a look that suggested it was anything but hypothetical."

"If this hypothetical situation were to ensure that the review process takes only a week, then hypothetically, I would be willing to consider it."

The officer nodded, a subtle agreement passing between them without explicit acknowledgment. "Should such a situation occur, it would be handled with the utmost discretion, and you would be informed of every step."

Michael reached into his bag, pulling out his checkbook. He wrote a check for fifty thousand pesos, folded it, and passed it discreetly to the officer. "Hypothetically, of course."

"Of course," the officer replied, pocketing the check discreetly. "I'll make sure your application gets the attention it deserves. Expect a call from us within a week with an update."

"Oh…I also have another invention of mine that I'd want to file a patent for." "Hmm…that's a separate form and process, but since we're already discussing expediting your current application, we can certainly look into handling this new one concurrently," the patent officer explained, his tone still low to maintain discretion. "The same considerations would apply, of course."

Michael wrote another check for fifty thousand pesos for the second invention.

"Here's for the second invention," Michael said as he handed over the second check, which the officer accepted with a nod, making a note on his paperwork.

"Okay, you just have to fill out another form," the officer said, handing him a new form. "I might ask, what's the second invention be?" "Well, it's the storage for all the energy that my solar panel will generate. It's a high-capacity, efficient energy storage system designed specifically to work with the unique characteristics of my solar panel. It allows for the storage of excess energy produced during peak sunlight hours, making it available for use during periods of low sunlight or at night," Michael explained, detailing the complementary nature of his second invention to the solar panel.

"Okay…we'll see you in a week, Mr. Reyes."

"Thank you, sir," Michael bowed and left the room.

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