Seeking advise on patents

[Lee Taylor]

Hello John,

I was working in a large engineering department in a large organization when I received my first patent. It only cost me my time. My employer paid for the patent and was listed as the owner. I was listed as the inventor. I worked with an individual at the patent office for about 6 months before the patent was issued. I submitted reams of written documentation and many many engineering drawings. I spent many hours (over a period of six months) in technical discussion with the patent office representative. The patent office completely re-wrote my documents and re-drew my engineering drawings. They did an excellent job but I think the re-work was a bit unnecessary.

We had a patent attorney on staff for the purpose of filing and persuing patent infringement claims.

The interesting thing is that now days one can easily search and find their patents on the internet.

Something to note is that a patent is just a legal document which helps you persue others peoples profits in court. The thing to realize is that the profits must be made before there is anything to possibly get. In other words, a great idea is nothing until it has been fully developed, marketed, produced, and sold in large numbers.

 

[Cave Diver]

Thanks for the information Lee.

Something to note is that a patent is just a legal document which helps you persue others peoples profits in court. The thing to realize is that the profits must be made before there is anything to possibly get. In other words, a great idea is nothing until it has been fully developed, marketed, produced, and sold in large numbers.

Yes, I realize that. I just want to make sure that if the idea does get developed and produced that I'm the one who gets something out of it. Two of the ideas are so ridiculously simple to the point that I could easily make the prototype myself, or have someone else to it for me at very little cost. But at the same time, they could easily be reproduced by someone else if I didn't protect the idea.

I'm debating whether it would be easier just to make it and try to market it and then worry about the patent hassle later.

 

[Lee Taylor]

John,

You may be missing one of my points. The point is:

your ideas can be reproduced by someone else even if you protect the idea.

A patent does not stop people or companies from copying your idea or product. They can copy it, mass market it, produce and sell millions, and leave it to you to do something about it.

Companies steal patented ideas everyday and make vast amounts of money on them.

The purpose of a patent is that of a court document to use in a legal battle. It does not stop people from copying your ideas.

 

[Cave Diver]

John,

You may be missing one of my points.

No, I get that. The patent just gives you a means to recourse, providing you have the means to fight it. Of course a better idea might be to market the idea to a company that has better means to protect it than I would by listing them as the owner, me as the inventor and negotiating a contract based on such.

I do appreciate the enlightenment.

 

[Lee Taylor]

Receiving royalties on a product patent is an inexpensive way to go. No patent costs. No production costs. No product infringement costs. No court costs.

A ratified contract with a manufacturing company may be the best path. They pay for everything (including patent, if they so decide to obtain one) and you receive a royalty.

 

[SC_Hoaty]

A minor point - one obtains a patent on an invention, not an idea. The patent gives you the right to exclude others from practicing (making, selling, ...) the invention. You cannot exclude others from thinking (conceiving of an idea).

Example - idea - store compressed air, and carry it with you underwater to breathe.

Invention - pick any regulator - each one executes the task slightly differently than their competitiors.