How do I know if my idea is worth patenting?

Question

I’m afraid to shop it around w/o getting a patent because I don’t want it stolen, but I don’t know if it will be well received by those who are in a position to market it.

Answer 1

You should patent it anyway. You never know how the market will change in a few years (or ten or twenty). Sometimes people don't patent and then someone else patents it and the original person is left in the dust.

If you patent it and it never comes to life in your lifetime - maybe someone in your family will be able to make it come to life!

Answer 2

It is not possible to protect ideas but rather the representation of that idea.

To protect an original invention OR a significant improvement to an existing product, a patent would be filed. Here's the USPTO's definition: http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/doc/general/index.html#patent

NOLO is a great, free informational site. Also, be sure to read what else the USPTO (United States Patent & Trademark Office) has to say about patents.

Research, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can. Here are some book titles that are relevant:

How to Patent:
* Patent It Yourself (11th Edition) by David Pressman
* Patents and How to Get One : A Practical Handbook by U.S. Department of Commerce
* How To Make Patent Drawings Yourself: A Patent It Yourself Companion by Jack Lo
* The Inventor's Notebook: A Patent It Yourself Companion by Fred E. Grissom

What to do Next:
* From Patent To Profit: Secrets & Strategies For The Successful Inventor, Third Edition by Bob Dematteis
* How to License Your Million Dollar Idea: Everything You Need To Know To Turn a Simple Idea into a Million Dollar Payday, 2nd Edition by Harvey Reese
* The Inventor's Bible: How to Market and License Your Brilliant Ideas by Ronald Louis Docie
* The Complete Idiot's Guide ® to Cashing in On Your Inventions by Richard Levy

There are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.

Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!

Answer 3

Can you state that it is "patent pending'? Even if you apply for a patent, your application may be rejected. Also, I believe that it can take as long as 2 years to get a patent.

You may want to do some market research yourself, if you haven't already done so.

Also, contact your local Small Business Administration. They can probably put you in touch with the right people. Their website is:
http://www.sba.gov

Good Luck

Answer 4

Actually, your first step is to do the patent search yourself at

http://www.uspto.gov

Be sure to look at applications as well as issued patents.

THEN take your findings to the patent attorney. This will save you a couple hundred dollars. Have at least $1000 set aside for the attorney plus $365+ for the patent application

Answer 5

Then do a "poor man's patent/copyright" Thats when you send a copy of the invention/song composed/novel written - whatever it may be - to yourself. Then put it somewhere safe WITHOUT opening it. Start shopping around, doing research, marketing etc. and if anyone should "steal" your idea you have a post-marked copy proving you were the original creator GOOD LUCK!!!

Answer 6

Ideas are very hard to patent. Things and processes to produce things are patentable. Build the prototype, then patent. Now, you can take it around and sell it. Good luck

Answer 7

Talk to several business' in your area, ask if they would like to prototype the item of choice and if it sells well, patent it.

But first, write out a contract with each business stating that that can't use or unlawfully distribute or recreate any part, idea or whole piece without your concent.

Answer 8

You have to hire a patent attorney for a patent search. That's your first step.

You can do some basic (very basic) research yourself at

http://www.uspto.gov

Answer 9

Wow have you ever gone after a patent... First and foremost do you want to spend a lot of money and time on it? will it make you a lot of money? will it be fairly easy to fabricate? or is it something that you can have fabricated overseas?( be careful on this one a fried of mine invented the disembodied hand that you see at Halloween so much and they had knockoff before he got his first shipment) and most of all stay away from those TV ads you see about them marketing your inventions they are bloodsuckers.

Answer 10

There are no guarantees either way. Do a patent search at your local library for a start.Peace.