Discussion
It's a (very) long time since I looked at any patent information. Just going to start googling but there is bound to be someone on here with more info than I can shake a stick at...
first lot of info I'm looking for are:
1: Easiest / cheapest way to see if patents are already filed on something
2: Check if something actually is patentable anyway.
3: rough costs of getting something very simple patented if the first two come up 1: negative & 2
ositive.
first lot of info I'm looking for are:
1: Easiest / cheapest way to see if patents are already filed on something
2: Check if something actually is patentable anyway.
3: rough costs of getting something very simple patented if the first two come up 1: negative & 2
ositive.Cheapest way to do any of this stuff is yourself, easier is to pay someone else - obviously you want to strike the right balance.
Initial searching can be done on the USPTO website and on Espacenet so that you have an idea at least of what is out there. Google is also pretty useful at coming up with some patents etc and Google Scholar is useful for looking at scientific papers etc.
http://patft.uspto.gov/
http://ep.espacenet.com/
For an invention to be patentable it must be new (Never disclosed anywhere in the world before - KEEP YOUR IDEA SECRET) and inventive (not an obvious combination of what has been done in the past - this is a difficult concept to explain in text, but basically the European way of testing it is to identify the closest prior art (existing disclosure) and determine the technical problem with it that your invention solves. Then try to look to see is another document (or common general knowledge) would lead you to that solution. So you could be novel by making something smaller than it was before (the exact size would be new), however, when you look at the known product and identify that the problem is that it's too big, the solution of making it smaller is obvious. However, if you have solved a technical problem when making the thing smaller (for example making a component of the appropriate size was not possible in the past) then that solution may be patentable.
The most sensible way to make sure you don't miss something is to do some research into patents in general (The UK IPO http://www.ipo.gov.uk/ has some good basic guides to patents and designs) and also into the prior art around your invention and then go and see a patent attorney for further advice - most will do a free initial consultation (half an hour or so).
Cost - depends on the technology and how and where you want to protect the invention (there is no world wide patent so you need to apply for protection in those countries/regions in which you want protection, but to get the ball rolling an initial application in any one country can be filed. A typical patent application can cost anywhere between £1500 and £3000 for the initial application.
Hope that helps. Feel free to e-mail me if you want any more detailed information.
Alex
Initial searching can be done on the USPTO website and on Espacenet so that you have an idea at least of what is out there. Google is also pretty useful at coming up with some patents etc and Google Scholar is useful for looking at scientific papers etc.
http://patft.uspto.gov/
http://ep.espacenet.com/
For an invention to be patentable it must be new (Never disclosed anywhere in the world before - KEEP YOUR IDEA SECRET) and inventive (not an obvious combination of what has been done in the past - this is a difficult concept to explain in text, but basically the European way of testing it is to identify the closest prior art (existing disclosure) and determine the technical problem with it that your invention solves. Then try to look to see is another document (or common general knowledge) would lead you to that solution. So you could be novel by making something smaller than it was before (the exact size would be new), however, when you look at the known product and identify that the problem is that it's too big, the solution of making it smaller is obvious. However, if you have solved a technical problem when making the thing smaller (for example making a component of the appropriate size was not possible in the past) then that solution may be patentable.
The most sensible way to make sure you don't miss something is to do some research into patents in general (The UK IPO http://www.ipo.gov.uk/ has some good basic guides to patents and designs) and also into the prior art around your invention and then go and see a patent attorney for further advice - most will do a free initial consultation (half an hour or so).
Cost - depends on the technology and how and where you want to protect the invention (there is no world wide patent so you need to apply for protection in those countries/regions in which you want protection, but to get the ball rolling an initial application in any one country can be filed. A typical patent application can cost anywhere between £1500 and £3000 for the initial application.
Hope that helps. Feel free to e-mail me if you want any more detailed information.
Alex
Many thanks Alex, it helps plenty 
I'm not convinced the idea would be patentable due to its simplicity, but the cost of a patent pretty much wipes the idea out anyway. I have a contact that could make use of it, was just hoping if it works (well, it can't fail to really, it's a singe piece of moulded plastic ) I might be able to afford a tank of petrol sometime next year!
I'm not convinced the idea would be patentable due to its simplicity, but the cost of a patent pretty much wipes the idea out anyway. I have a contact that could make use of it, was just hoping if it works (well, it can't fail to really, it's a singe piece of moulded plastic
) I might be able to afford a tank of petrol sometime next year!Hi, Davi,
I agree with the stuff that Alex has told you.
As well as the British Patent Office, the European Patent Office site has some helpful information, in particular http://www.epo.org/topics/innovation-and-economy/h...
You can do everything on your own but much of the patent system is complicated and if you cock it up you can loose all your rights. Some patent attorneys may be willing to give you advice before you actually pay good money: obviously if your idea doesn't look like it will be successful they will tell you so.
You're welcome to e-mail me too if you have any questions.
I agree with the stuff that Alex has told you.
As well as the British Patent Office, the European Patent Office site has some helpful information, in particular http://www.epo.org/topics/innovation-and-economy/h...
You can do everything on your own but much of the patent system is complicated and if you cock it up you can loose all your rights. Some patent attorneys may be willing to give you advice before you actually pay good money: obviously if your idea doesn't look like it will be successful they will tell you so.
You're welcome to e-mail me too if you have any questions.
Got looking through the UK registered patents....
How cool is this.
I love the fact they patented it....
http://www.ipo.gov.uk/rs-bin/RightSite/formexec?DM...
How cool is this.
I love the fact they patented it....
http://www.ipo.gov.uk/rs-bin/RightSite/formexec?DM...
cazzer said:
Got looking through the UK registered patents....
How cool is this.
I love the fact they patented it....
http://www.ipo.gov.uk/rs-bin/RightSite/formexec?DM...
How can you patent a car?How cool is this.
I love the fact they patented it....
http://www.ipo.gov.uk/rs-bin/RightSite/formexec?DM...
Is it not just a copyright to the design (or did I read it wrong)?
ASBO said:
cazzer said:
Got looking through the UK registered patents....
How cool is this.
I love the fact they patented it....
http://www.ipo.gov.uk/rs-bin/RightSite/formexec?DM...
How can you patent a car?How cool is this.
I love the fact they patented it....
http://www.ipo.gov.uk/rs-bin/RightSite/formexec?DM...
Is it not just a copyright to the design (or did I read it wrong)?
Alex
I quite like the TVR roof patent:
http://v3.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?...
I was surprised when I found it.....the roof of my Chim is patent protected!
Alex
http://v3.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?...
I was surprised when I found it.....the roof of my Chim is patent protected!
Alex
Depends on what you patent....Dyson had a patent on the use of a cyclone in a vacuum cleaner - successfully took Hoover to court and won significant damages - patent is now expired hence so many of the things on the market.
Also, just because you can work around a patent doesn't make it worthless - a third party still has to do the work to work around it rather than simply copy your concept - delays your competitor by preventing them from benefitting from your hard work and can prevent them from competing with a "Me Too" product with exactly the same features.
Alex
Also, just because you can work around a patent doesn't make it worthless - a third party still has to do the work to work around it rather than simply copy your concept - delays your competitor by preventing them from benefitting from your hard work and can prevent them from competing with a "Me Too" product with exactly the same features.
Alex
) Copyright is an automatic right which arises on the creation of a new, original work and it gives you the right to prevent a third party copying a substantial portion of your work - literary or artistic is the most common type of work protected. The right only prevents copying and does not protect the idea, just the expression of the idea - so you are free to right a book about a wizard going to school for the first time, but if he is called Harry and goes to Hogwarts there may be problems (not the best example, but it gives you the idea). Basically, Copyright protects the expression of an idea (it protects what is actually on the page/screen/canvas etc) - can be a very valuable right (just ask JK Rowling)
A granted patent gives you the right for 20 years to prevent a third party from making, selling, importing (basically dealing in any commercial way) with a product/process that falls within the scope of the patent claims. It does not require copying so a third party who has never seen your patent can still be prevented from exploiting their product/process. Basically, a patent protect a technical advance and is meant to be the reward from the Government for disclosing your invention to the world - Can also be a valuable right, but for a different purpose.
Alex
A granted patent gives you the right for 20 years to prevent a third party from making, selling, importing (basically dealing in any commercial way) with a product/process that falls within the scope of the patent claims. It does not require copying so a third party who has never seen your patent can still be prevented from exploiting their product/process. Basically, a patent protect a technical advance and is meant to be the reward from the Government for disclosing your invention to the world - Can also be a valuable right, but for a different purpose.
Alex
allegro said:
on a serious note, tell no one! Also be very careful if you ask a company to produce a mock up. make sure you have rights to everything they do, especially any molds, jigs, that sort of thing
For this you need to have a water tight 'Non-disclosure Agreement' with anyone who will be involved!AlexB said:
The right only prevents copying and does not protect the idea, just the expression of the idea - so you are free to right a book about a wizard going to school for the first time, but if he is called Harry and goes to Hogwarts there may be problems (not the best example, but it gives you the idea).
So a book about a Jedi Knight called Luke would be ok then?blip
Alex is very knowledgeable and I agree with what he says.
I am lucky in that the firm I work for likes to protect it's intellectual property so they file a fair few patents, so we use in house lawyers and agents to determine what other filings are around. This achieves 2 things -
1) we don't file for something that's already out there.
2) we can word the patent application to cover a lot of items other people never thought of.
My patents will not make me rich as the firm I work for will own them, however they do give a bit of kudos in my industry, hopefully that will result in long term gainful employment.
I am lucky in that the firm I work for likes to protect it's intellectual property so they file a fair few patents, so we use in house lawyers and agents to determine what other filings are around. This achieves 2 things -
1) we don't file for something that's already out there.
2) we can word the patent application to cover a lot of items other people never thought of.
My patents will not make me rich as the firm I work for will own them, however they do give a bit of kudos in my industry, hopefully that will result in long term gainful employment.
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