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!

[ken914]

I have some patents on technical inventions and can tell you a couple of things.

1) It will cost more than you plan to patent it.
2) It will cost even more than that...
3) There are ongoing costs to keep it patented. They are more than you think also.
4) Getting it patented will take a lot of your time
5) You are going to have a very hard time licensing or selling you patent, no matter how good it is.
6) Nobody (including companies) like change. So a patent may just assure everyone that your idea will stay out of the public domain.
7) Having a great idea, patenting it, are turning it into a product are VERY hard. After you do all that remember that NOBODY knows about it and in order to sell them one you will first have to educate them.

I have patents on some ideas that were and still are revolutionary and could change the way a lot of prototyping is performed, but no one cares. The task of educating people to a new way of thinking is much harder than you think and much harder than selling existing and familiar technology.

Be a big pesimist on this issue and MAYBE you will break even.

Good luck.