Has anyone ever taken out a UK or worldwide patent on a new invention ?

Question

Have you ever patented an invention,how sucessful was it and how much trouble did you have in obtaining the patent ?

Answer 1

Hi,

I recommend that you get in contact with a patent attorney if you have an invention which you are serious about protecting. It is very difficult for a layperson to write a valid and useful patent application - a patent is a legal document just as much as is the deed for your own home! Do not disclose your invention except under conditions of strict confidentiality until you have filed a patent application. If you are in the UK then you can find a patent attorney from the website of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (www.cipa.org.uk). If keeping costs to a minimum is important then you should probably use a sole practitioner rather than a large firm.

Just a few basics: You can start off by filing a UK patent application, and then within a year you can start looking towards protection in other countries (e.g. the US) or regions (e.g. Europe). There are a number of mechanisms to do this in an efficient and cost effective (but still very costly) manner. But protection in a number of countries is inevitably many times more expensive than protection in one country, and most private individuals would need financial backing to achieve it.

Patent applications are examined, and if they meet various requirements such as novelty (not been done before) and inventiveness (not a mere obvious modification of the prior art) etc, then they are granted. This process takes upwards of 2 years, depending on the country (the UK is very quick for example).

Remember also that there is little point in getting an patent unless you are going to use it. Ways of using it include licensing it, using it to give yourself a monopoly position within the marketplace, selling it to someone else, or even merely to wave at people to show how clever your product is!

Hope all that helps.

Answer 2

I have a patent for an educational board game called Phonemology.I used a patent agent as the details were quite complex.

Applying to the patent office directly is also possible and much less costly; they are very helpful indeed as to what you need to do and drawings or prototype required etc.

The difficult bit is getting funds to actually produce your idea which is what I'm currently working on. Best of luck to you!

Answer 3

Yes, I've taken out the patent on the hydrogen engine in the 50s but Shell bought it from me and have been sitting on it ever since so they can peddle their oil and petrol.
- Sir Francis Bacon

Answer 4

Worldwide patents are very expensive (mainly translation costs). So don't do it, select a couple of key countries only

Answer 5

NO i just like the thoughts of keeping my inventions to myself!

Answer 6

It happens every day. Be brave and do it. It's part of being British Sir

Answer 7

Easy and very successful. Thank you.