Product idea - securing my rights?

[mouk786]

Basically I have an idea for a product. I need to check if someone else has thought of it, and secured the idea both in the UK and worldwide

How do I do this?

Secondly, if no one has protected the idea how much of a hassle is it to do? How vague can you be?

[Boosted LS1]

Patents office I think but you must never divulge your idea on the net or in an email otherwise it's just gone global and you've lost your rights. Or something like that, ask first.

What was the idea, I may be able to help?

Edited by Boosted LS1 on Friday 17th April 00:14

[spikeyhead]

Step 1, have a look through the US patent office online

http://www.uspto.gov/

You can get an idea of vagueness from reading patents that are similar to yours butif it's too vague then you'll not protect your idea.

If that doesn't turn anything up then

Start paying a patent lawyer to sort out a patent, however expect variosu third world countries to copy your idea anyway. I think there's a patent lawyer or two on here who'll be along to advise further.

[PetrolTed]

www.ipo.gov.uk

[EINSIGN]

http://gb.espacenet.com/search97cgi/s97_cgi.exe?Ac...

[mouk786]

I had a quick look on the Patents office UK site.

My idea is adapting a product that is very common - clocks. I am pretty sure no one owns the rights to clocks. Going furhter its for a particular design of clock - but I will keep looking to see if someone has taken that design (its NOT an invention on the workings of a clock or anything scientific).

I spose I could secure the rights to the idea in the UK and USA

But as someone says, can some random ocmpany in China just copy my idea and sell it here?

Problem is I want to protect the design of the clock rather than something like the branding of the clock, which would obviously make other companies copying illegal it because it wouldbe counterfeiting. Whereas with a design its a bit more vague..they could just make a few minor changes not covered by my patent

Edited by mouk786 on Friday 17th April 18:38

[RJDM3]

design ip rights are very different to a patent

[dfen5]

Having just read a book that touched on this it appears you actually have to go some way to executing the idea or actually making it work. NDA's and the like aren't much cop by all accounts.

[mouk786]

I might try and get a prototype knocked up

if someone else has already made this product can I secure the rights to it if they haven't already done so? or does it depend on what it is?

will have to get a book on this i guess.

[spikeyhead]

mouk786 said:

I might try and get a prototype knocked up

if someone else has already made this product can I secure the rights to it if they haven't already done so? or does it depend on what it is?

will have to get a book on this i guess.

I think a discussion with a patent lawyer is the sensible step forwards.

Let them look after their area of expertise whilst you concentrate on yours.