I have a brilliant idea. What's the easiest way to patent? What's your most inventive idea? Did you patent?

Answer 1

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 2

If you want to patent something properly, you have to go through a patent office. However, if you don't feel like spending the money on a patent, there is another way that should technically be equivalent to a patent (although I have never tried it). Mail yourself a letter with your idea on it and keep it in a safe place. Because the letter is government date stamped, it can prove that you came up with an idea before someone else and technically should stand up in a court of law. Whatever you do though, DON'T OPEN THE ENVELOPE!

Answer 3

The easiest way is to hire a patent attorney and let them do all the work. You tell them your idea and they search all the patents already in effect and pending to make sure your idea hasn't already been patented. My hubby had a GREAT idea and we searched and searched on our own and thought we had a million dollar idea! It was a medical thing for a collapsed lung - anyway a friend of ours who has patented SEVERAL things recommended his patent attorney who within a week found a similar enough item that we couldn't patent it ourselves. Patent attornies have access to more info than you can find on your own! Good Luck!

Answer 4

I work for a fairly large electronics company and have 9 patents. You're going to have to hire a patent attorney to do a search and have them draft it up and file it. Then guaranteed, the patent office will refuse it and you'll have to contest it and file more arguments. My experience says that they cost about $10,000 to get through and about 3 years of time. STAY AWAY FROM THE COMPANIES THAT ADVERTISE ON TV. Get a good attorney. It's always nice to have a working model too.

I believe the sealed envelope only works for copyrights and not patents and you'd have a huge legal battle on your hands that may cost 100's of thousands. If it worked, no one would bother getting a patent.

Answer 5

Contact a registered patent agent and have them do a patent search to make sure your idea is unique, then if you have the cash, you can either file a provisional application, or the real thing. A lawyer can do it too, but independent patent agents are usually less expensive.

Answer 6

Best way to go is to file a provisional patent application, that will protect your idea for one year, giving you time to research if you can sell it or make it for sale. After one year, the idea becomes public if you don't apply for a full patent. Go on line to USPTO.GOV if you are in the US.
And yes, I have a few patents, and it's fun to see them come alive.