A practical confidentiality guide for inventors
Many inventions are lost long before they are rejected by a patent office.
Too often inventors unintentionally put their patent rights at risk because they are too excited about their idea and start talking about it. Conversations, emails, pitch decks, and increasingly AI prompts, can all be the reason that an invention becomes impossible to patent, especially in Europe.
In this guide, we explain who you can safely talk to, who you should avoid, and how to protect your invention from day one.
Why confidentiality is critical before filing
Before a patent application is filed, your invention must remain confidential. Any disclosure, intentional or accidental, may legally qualify as public disclosure.
In most jurisdictions, including Europe, public disclosure before filing destroys novelty and makes patent protection nigh impossible. While limited exceptions exist in some countries, relying on them is risky and rarely compatible with a solid international patent strategy.
Can you tell friends and family?
Short answer: No.
It’s completely normal to want to share your ideas with people close to you. Maybe you want feedback, encouragement, or just someone to celebrate with.
But even private conversations with friends or relatives can legally be considered as a public disclosure. This has nothing to do with (dis)trust, it is about legal certainty.
Why this is risky
- They are not bound by confidentiality.
- They may unintentionally share the information.
- You have no evidence of secrecy obligations.
If you really must discuss it
- Keep the discussion very high‑level.
- Do not disclose what makes the invention inventive.
Safer option
Use a Non‑Disclosure Agreement (NDA), and still limit what you share.
Can you share your invention with generative AI tools?
Short answer: No.
Public AI tools (such as ChatGPT, Gemini, DeepSeek or similar platforms) are considered public environments. Anything you input may:
- be stored,
- be reused, or
- be used for model training.
From a patent law perspective, this may amount to a public disclosure.
Only strictly controlled, in‑house AI systems with limited access may be acceptable, and even then, caution is required.
If you need help thinking through your invention safely, that is exactly what a confidential first meeting with a patent attorney is for. AI can support innovation, but it does not replace a patent attorney when it comes to protecting inventions.
Can you share your invention with IFORI?
Yes, without hesitation.
Patent attorneys are legally and professionally bound by strict confidentiality obligations.
This applies even before you formally become a client.
At IFORI:
- You can freely discuss all technical details.
- Your invention remains fully confidential.
- You receive clear advice on patentability and strategy.
We do not just listen. We actively identify patentable core concepts, legal risks and the most effective filing strategy; before anything is disclosed.
Disclosure only occurs with your explicit consent, for example, when filing a patent application.
Conclusion
If you want absolute certainty that your invention remains protected before filing, there is only one safe choice: a patent attorney.
Friends, family, and public AI tools, however well‑intentioned, can unintentionally cost you your patent.
At IFORI, we offer a free, confidential initial meeting in which we assess your invention and outline the best next steps for your specific situation.
The safest moment to protect your invention is not after you talk about it; but before you do.
