Do you think I can be rich with no help? HELP PLEASE!
2006-09-26 17:16:34 · 3 answers · asked by Ms.Ripsta 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Other - Business & Finance
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!
2006-09-27 02:37:26 · answer #1 · answered by TM Express™ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your idea is worthwhile, it is worth employing a lawyer.
The typical stages are to file a provisional patent (2K). This buys 12 months to research and refine your idea further while preserving priority. A PCT filing is next (3K) and buys a further 18 months. The patent application is next at 2-5K per country. This is where the process starts to get expensive. If your patent is complex and you need broad coverage, the expense can easily run 100 K per year. Unless you have deep pockets to pay the costs all the way through the process, don't start. Even if you have deep pockets, research whether your idea is already patented or in the scientific literature. Research the potential markets for the idea. If the markets are not at least 50M, don't bother. Even if you find no priors, it is still possible that someone else filed a provisional patent before you, or a scientific paper has been received, but not yet published. If you miss a deadline for payment, you lose all rights to your idea. It is better to find VC funding before starting the patent process. On the other hand, you won't find a VC unless a provisional patent is filed. If it sounds like a chicken and egg problem, that is because it is.
2006-09-27 00:57:14 · answer #2 · answered by d/dx+d/dy+d/dz 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
check out this site for information http://www.uspto.gov/
you can also search for your idea to see if it is already taken
2006-09-27 00:19:07 · answer #3 · answered by Dirty 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋