Patent - help

[Mrs Trackside]

I've got a fantastic idea which I'm sure could make me some big money.

Obviously, I don't want to discuss it without a patent, so I've had a look on the Patent Office website, but there's so much on there that I don't know where to start looking for information on how to register a patent and, (more importantly) how much is it going to cost me?

Any pointers would be appreciated.

[Tony427]

Step 1. You have to prove you thought of the idea/ design first so write out or draw out the design first, sign and date it with independent witnesses and then post it back to yourself with proof of posting ( recorded delivery). You now have a copyright design or idea.

Step 2. Talk with a patent agent, an initial chat shouldn't cost two much. Theres a patent agent in Brum I can recommend (pm me if interested.)

Step 3.Start saving up.............a simple patent application should cost you around the £ 5 to £6k, but if you have to defend it it can get very very expensive, and a patent is only worth what you will pay to defend it at the end of the day........and not everyone has the balls or pockets that Dyson had.

Step 4. If you have a really good idea, get a confidentiality agreement/ non disclosure agreement set up by a good legal eagle and see if there's an existing company that may want to purchase your idea and then develop it into a saleable product. Do not talk to anyone who wont sign your document. Do not use theirs, they will insist its easier, cheaper, more straightforward etc....they are lying, their document gives them all the protection and will attempt to strip you of your rights. Assume that everyone you talk to will try to shaft you and only give out the bare minimum details until your legal help tells you otherwise.

Good luck........

Cheers,

Tony

[jconsta6]

Of course if it's just an idea, you can't patent it anyway.

As I understand it you need to have something tangable, like for instance a design, or a formuala - simply an idea is un-patenable.... to my mind.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks

JC

[blanc]

In my experience (back when I was a Design Engineer) the effectiveness of a patent would seem to rely heavily on the wording etc. It's needs to be exact enough to describe what it's all about but vague enough to make it tricky to beat by making a small change to the design/product.

I learnt this when my company paid to patent something I designed which cost them about £9K. I also had another project which was to find away around a competitors patent in order to produce a me too product.

The comments about having the funds to defend the patent are also very true.

[golfman]

Step 1. You tell me your idea.

Step 2. What idea? Who are you?

[Mrs Trackside]

Thanks for your helpful replies Tony and Blanc. Unfortunately, I can't afford 5+ grand to support an idea so it looks like I'm going to live in poverty for a bit longer

[ysnnim]

Depending on the type of idea you have, filing a patent application can cost as little as £1000 (depending on how much work legals have to do on the claims). This then gets filed - and then you wait around 18 months before the patent office tells you if your application has been successful etc... As to defending your idea - don't worry about that in the short term -

PM if interested.

David.