Patent questions?

Question

If someone had an invention they wanted to get patented, is it possible to show the invention to a patent attorney to see what potential the invention might have? If so, how safe is it to do that?

Second question. Does anyone know or is a patent attorney that I could e-mail and possibly show designs for an invention?

[e-mail]

Thanks

Answer 1

The first thing you will want to do is interview a number of patent attorneys and select one that you are able to work with. The ability to work together will determine the quality of the patent and the cost.

Attorneys work by the hour. Most charge about $300 per hour. You will produce a better patent at a lower cost if you write the patent yourself. Do not worry about the language of the writing. That is the job of the patent attorney. If you don’t do this most of your cost will be in the time you spend with the attorney giving him the information. Use another patent as a guide. Also don’t worry about the claims of the patent that is also the job of the attorney. I have cost of about $3000 to $5000 for most patents I have. If you have a really good idea you may be able to find an attorney that will work with you for a share. A share of 25 to 50 per cent is in order if the attorney will also try and promote the idea.

Learn how to judge a good patent from a poor one. It is easy to get a patent using many dependent claims but it is also a poor patent for protection.

If you sell or publish regarding the item you are trying to patent you have a year before you loose any rights in the US.

Answer 2

In America only the inventor can patent anything. If the Patent Attorney steals the idea you only have to notify both eth United States Patent Office, Office of Enrollment and Discipline and report the Attorney. Besdies if he patents the idea and you can prove that you came up with the idea first, his patent is invalid.

Basically I know of no Patent Attorney that would risk it. Beginning inventors tend to be paranoid, however there really is no reason to be so.

However getting a patent costs about $20000 over three years. I have met no ATtorney that will take a chance on a great idea for free, basically its going to cost you $20000. Roughly only 3-5% of all patents even pay for the cost of getting the patent in the first place.

Also Patent Attorneys will only write the patent application and defend the patent against teh patent Office for $20000, they will not do a market analysis on teh idea, a business plan for production, nor help you get the item to market. For that you need to form a company , do a business plan, then find some Venture Capitalist.

Hope this helps.

Good Luck

Answer 3

I have several patents and have ALWAYS used a patent attorney. First...is your idea really good? Will it sell? Everyone here is correct when they say that it will cost money to get your invention patented. The first step is to discuss it with your attorney. I recommend Toni at teaselaw.com. Don't even bother with anyone else.....she is a great attorney... You will need to provide her with a description of the invention so that she can have an initial search conducted. Expect the initial search to cost around $600. From there an assessment can be made regarding the patentability of your invention. Her hourly rate is $180. If you have a good idea and really think it's worth money...remove from all consideration the notion of doing the patent work yourself. Tell Toni Tom K says hi.

Answer 4

You may benefit from a consultation from a patent atty. You may be able to go and get a free consultation, and the atty. can tell you what their fee would be and tell you the average cost.

Depending on what you patent is for you may rather want the attorneys help. Patent attorneys can write the patent with such language that makes the patent harder to copy. There are ways to word it where you can get claims on the individual pieces and not just the whole invention.

My patents have cost anywhere between 5000k and 20000k depending on the complexity and length of the patent. (there may also be patent maintenance fees). You also have to file the patent before you offer it for sale to the public. If you do not than "your technology" is considered public knowledge.

It looks like you may be from Denver, I am unfortunately not anywhere near your area, to provide you with a reputable law firm local to you. Sorry about that one.

Answer 5

You have to pay the patent attorney a retainer in order to show them the invention. Don't bother. Buy the book "Patent It Yourself" and read it all the way through. It will go through the steps to patenting it yourself. Saves you LOTS of money, though it is a TIME eater. can't tell you how to find out about the potential - that's all in the marketing!

Answer 6

The patent is for the thought, now not how it's created. In different phrases, when you layout a golfing membership, the patent at the layout could stand irrespective of it being product of wooden, titanium or bat guano.....:)