can you patent an idea /?

Question

what protection does a patent give

Answer 1

Yes you can providing that someone else hasn't got an existing patent on it.

Extract from http://www.patent.gov.uk/
What is a patent?

A patent protects new inventions and covers how things work, what they do, how they do it, what they are made of and how they are made. It gives you the exclusive right to make, use and sell the invention in the United Kingdom.

Your invention must:

be new
have an inventive step that is not obvious to someone with knowledge and experience in the subject
be capable of being made or used in some kind of industry
not be:

a scientific or mathematical discovery, theory or method

a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work

a way of performing a mental act, playing a game or doing business

the presentation of information, or some computer programs

an animal or plant variety

a method of medical treatment or diagnosis

against public policy or morality.

Answer 2

Let me tell you from experience A design patent cost $100 and gives you a patent for the look of the item and is easily goten around just by any small change to the look of the item, a functional design patent cost $500 and gives protection for the function of a device meaning apearance dosent matter. Those are just the fees at the patent office. Then you have to deal with a bunch of people so crooked that they would scew over their own mother just to make a buck. What I mean by that is they like to misrepresent contracts that give them the right to make a product that is in direct violation of your patent.They call these nondisclosure agreements. I know I received one such as that from craftsman tools. And that is if you do it all on your own, if you hire a lawer to help with it and someone to do the drawings that you'll need for the patent, oh and dont forget the market research which should be done before applying for the patent. That can cost a pretty penny. Then you still need to make a prototype, this starts with solid works or cad drawings, then from that they make a model, from that they make a prototype, now your ready to take the prototype and the market research to the companies that make the product or the costly venture of trying to manufacture and advertize, and for what 3% of the profit and to be ignored by most companies while trying to sell it. Alot of them wont buy it from anyone but a vender. Now there is no law against making and marketing anything you make with or without a patent, but you should have some protection on it. I recommend checking out a book called Patent it yourself eleventh edition, its written by a patent atorney and I found it very helpful .

Answer 3

"You cannot patent an idea, but you can patent the concrete expression of an idea."
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/sc_mrksv/cipo/patents/e-filing/tell4-3.htm


"Invention is a hobby in a sense, and you should enjoy your work; but the bottom line is that you are developing products to try to make money. Therefore, it's very important that you take the protection of your ideas seriously and the way to do that is to patent it.

Your patent is a legal document giving you the monopoly on your product.

In the past I've called it a "license to sue somebody." While it may sound harsh, that is exactly what it is."
http://www.morebusiness.com/running_your_business/marketing/d1007343402.brc

Answer 4

Depends where you post the patent, but will cost several £thousands as you have to go through a broker.
It wont protect against crooks in other countries or a variation of it.
You have to do a search first to see if its been done before.

Answer 5

You can patent something if you think of it and actually make it work.

If you are in progress, mail the plans to yourself via certified mail, so you can prove you thought of it first.

Answer 6

yeah, protect you from being copied, speak to business link or chambers of commerce. if it is intellectual property, i.e. a document, the easiet way to copyright and protect it is to put it in an envelope and post it to yourself and not open it.

weird i know, but true, you will come across that i your research.

all the best amigos.

Answer 7

I've invented the "zipparoo"- it stops my zip sliding down on my jeans - usually when they are too tight coz i've eaten too much!!!!
good luck its a long process

Answer 8

yes of course but how you make it full-proof i have no idea as there's always someone will shake you down

Answer 9

Depends on what the product is!

Answer 10

It means that no one can duplicate your idea. And then put their name on it.