OT Anyone here ever patent something?, where to start? Options

[GaroldShaffer]

With all the different products we have here, I am sure someone has got a patent. Got a few ideas that I think I would like to patent. I have been reading some websites but would like to get some first hand input from someone that has done this process before.

Thanks!

[ss6]

OK, I'm not a patent attorney, but I know one (LarryP), and have a few patents.

Getting a patent pretty much boils down to a prior-art search, ie proving your idea is novel, ie not already covered in any other patent or knowledge in the public domain, then writing an effective patent application, submitting it to the patent office, addressing any concerns from the patent examination(s), ie amending the application, appearing before the examiner, etc.

Once you receive the patent, you have to defend it, ie search for and pursue any infringement, otherwise you may lose your exclusive rights.

The "price of admission" for a patent used to be anywhere from $7 - 15K, but today's mileage may vary. Prior-art searches have become much easier thanks to online databases, but the key to the kingdom is a set of claims in the application that give you the broadest possible coverage of your ideas, and you're not going to get that out of someone's mail-order workbook.

BTW, a patent is not a winning lottery ticket, companies will not come beating down your door offering megabucks. You'll have to "shop" your patent around if you don't plan producing the item yourself. If an idea is good, a *scrupulous* company will likely first assign their engineers to look for a work-around (this is where your claims earn their keep), or they will assign their attorneys to look for other flaws (ditto).

Some ideas are better off being kept as trade secrets, if the amount of disclosure required by the patent application teaches too much about the idea, or if detecting infringement is too difficult. Certain embedded software algorithms would be an example.

The US Patent Office has an extensive website, most patents are on line and searchable. It would be in your best interest to first take advantage of the USPTO's search capability and look for anything remotely related to your idea before putting any money on the table...

For a great introduction, check out their FAQ's:

http://www.uspto.gov/main/faq/

Did I do OK Larry???