Our Mission
At The Patent Oath, our mission is to make intellectual property protection more accessible for underrepresented creators. We’re building a platform that uses AI tools and community support to guide everyday inventors through the patent process without needing a legal background.
We believe every idea deserves the opportunity to be protected and recognized.
*The Patent Oath is currently in prototype stage. We're inviting early users to preview the demo, share feedback, and help us build a more equitable innovation ecosystem.
Our Name & History
Until the Civil War, Black inventors were legally barred from taking the Inventor’s Oath. A requirement to file a U.S. patent because they were not recognized as legal persons under the law. Enslaved people were considered property, and even free Black individuals were denied citizenship under rulings like Dred Scott v. Sandford. That meant they couldn’t claim ownership of their inventions, sue for theft, or receive credit for their ideas.
Our name, The Patent Oath, reclaims that history. We are building a future where every creator, especially those historically excluded, can take the oath. Protect what they build, and be rightfully recognized for their contributions to innovation.
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What exactly is The Patent Oath?The Patent Oath is an AI-powered platform and community that helps creators especially first-time inventors navigate the patent process. We guide users through everything from describing their idea to preparing for legal handoff, with tools, education, and real human support.
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Are you a law firm?No, we’re not a law firm and we don’t provide legal advice. We offer tools and resources to help you prepare for the patent process, and we can connect you with trusted, licensed attorneys when you're ready to file.
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Why is this platform focused on underrepresented creators?Because the patent system was never built with everyone in mind. We’re committed to closing that gap by making intellectual property tools more accessible, especially for Black, Brown, and historically excluded innovators who’ve too often been left out of the innovation economy.
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How does The Patent Oath use AI?Our AI tools are designed to support you in protecting your ideas not to generate inventions. You stay in control of your work, and all ideas must originate from you. We use AI to help with tasks like drafting language, checking originality, and scoring your readiness to file but everything is editable, reviewable, and meant to assist your process, not replace it. Inventions devised solely by AI are currently ineligible for patent protection under U.S. law. The Patent Oath does not generate inventions and does not endorse submitting AI-created content without human contribution. To learn more about the legal and ethical use of AI in patenting, visit our AI & Patent Law Resources page.