Patents are the cornerstone for protecting the intellectual property that companies produce and market. This book deals with a patent not only as a means of protecting an invention but also as a business asset, competitive advantage, barrier to entry against the competition as well as a revenue resource through licensing. Geared towards the needs and understanding of practicing engineers and scientists across industries, ranging from plastics to medical devices to chemicals and civil engineering, the book provides business-based questions that a professional must consider and answer before deciding whether to patent an invention. Included are patent law-based and business-oriented steps and questions a professional should direct to a patent practitioner in order to protect an invention.