Hello looking to patent an idea. How do i get that done and whats the cheapest way?

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! Having said this, a home-made patent may still be better than none at all if you really cannot afford to pay a professional. Do not disclose your invention except under conditions of strict confidentiality until you have filed a patent application.

Patents are granted for "inventions", and not all ideas constitute patentable inventions. A patent attorney will be able to give you specific advice on this.

Just a few basics: You need to obtain a separate patent in each country or region in which you want protection. You can start off by filing one patent application, and then within a year you can start looking towards protection in other countries 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. 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.

Finally, I disagree with a number of the other comments. For a start, while it is true that it is difficult to enforce a patent without a lot of money, the vast majority of patents are never actually enforced in the courts. They can be licensed out in return for a royalty, they can be sold, or used as a badge of honour to show how clever your product is!

Hope all that helps, and best of luck!

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 the USPTO (United States Patent & Trademark Office) has to say about patents.

Associations may be a good avenue to explore. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet. See the source box for some relevant links.

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

Getting a 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

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

Ideas can not be patented. Only inventions can. You must reduce your idea to practicability, meaning either you build a working prototype or produce precisely detailed schematics that would allow someone else to build the invention. Then, you must search the Patent records to make sure that the invention has not previously been patented and that it does not depend on technology that is currently under patent. It is a complex process that you (with all due respect) are unlikely to be able to do well on your own. Contact an attorney who specializes in patents and who is licensed in your jurisdiction.

Answer 4

Go to a patent attorney. Really. You can get a patent on almost anything so long as it is not an existing stolen idea, but that does not mean it is worth getting the patent.

First, search the patent website, it might already be patented.

http://www.uspto.gov/main/trademarks.htm

Answer 5

If you have to ask how much a patent costs, you probably don't want one. All a patent is is a piece of paper that gives you the right to sue someone who has lots more money (and therefore better lawyers) than you. Unless you have the legal resources to defend it, a patent is all but worthless.