Getting a patent for a digital platform is possible. However, the platform must be inventive enough for this. This means that your platform must be unique so that someone with skills in the industry also finds it unique and not as an existing concept or platform. Once you have a patent on your own platform, you are protected and don't have to worry about potential infringement on your digital platform. This means that people cannot copy your digital platform literally, and you have the rights.

What is a patent and why should you patent a platform?

A patent is an exclusive right to a product or invention. This means that you have all the rights to your product or invention, and other companies cannot easily copy it. Patenting an application or platform is an important part of protecting your intellectual property and enables you to claim damages for infringement. Simply put, a patent protects your platform against intellectual property infringement.

Applying for a patent for a platform

Why patent a platform? Most platforms are built on at least some form of existing technology. This makes applying for an online platform patent difficult. Before you apply for a digital platform patent, you need to search the state of the art. This is a search for existing patents that may be similar to the operation of your platform. You need to compare the results of your search with your own platform. Look for the parts of your digital platform that are different. These separate items are the parts of your platform on which to apply for a patent.

Requirements for a platform patent

Before you start applying for a platform patent, it's important to have a good understanding of what a patent is. For a potential platform patent, you would need to meet these three requirements:

• The platform is new.
• The platform is eligible for patents, which means it is not an abstract idea.
• The patent must not be obvious. This means that making your own platform unique must be inventive enough so that someone with skills in the industry also finds it unique and not as an existing concept or platform. An application can be rejected if the platform combines existing inventions or is a variation on an existing idea. Combining technologies or processes is not unique, so a platform that uses these methods is not eligible for patent protection.

Should you patent your platform?

Patent for online platform? Should you patent your platform? It depends. Having a platform patent is a long and costly process. If your platform is unlikely to earn enough money or has a short lifespan, then a patent isn't necessary. However, if your platform has high commercial value, you may consider a patent. If you don't have a big budget, you might consider these options instead. Instead of a platform patent, you can use copyright, trademarks, and non-disclosure agreements. These are less expensive and can be just as effective.

Advice on a patent for an online platform

A platform patent doesn't seem necessary in the startup phase of your digital platform. A platform patent can possibly be applied for later when the success of your platform increases. When setting up a digital platform with Start-platform, you can quickly switch at minimal cost.