How do I get a patent with the assurance that my idea will not be stolen in the process?

Question

I have a pretty big breakthrough that I designed on my own, basically soup to nuts in my garage. How do I get a patent, and avoid my idea from being stolen?

Answer 1

Actually from what I've read, mailing ideas to yourself is not credible because postmarks can be forged. I've read that the following holds up better in court...

You can:
1) File a disclosure with the patent office (good for 1 year I think)
2) Write in pen in a permanent bound lab notebook and have a colleague read, sign and date it. Highly recommended, since this is credible, legal proof of who the inventor is and when the invention was conceived.
3) file a provisional patent application
4) get a manufacturer to sign a NDA, and agree that if they use your idea, then they will pay for the patent filing and royalties. Apparently this is what the pros do, and it's far more successful than trying to patent it yourself.
5) If you have the resources, build a prototype or otherwise develop your invention, and thus "reduce it to practice", but #4 is better if you can get it.

Answer 2

The answer is simple - hire an attorney to register your idea with the U.S. Patent Office. Then the only people who will see your idea is the attorney and the Patent Office, and you are guaranteed of the confidentiality of both. That's the same path that everybody uses, including the largest companies you can think of.

And a copyright will NOT protect an invention. Period.

Answer 3

Only the STATE can grant a patent - none of this mailing yourself envelopes or having other people sign a note. The site listed below provides a step-by-step guideline on how to patent an invention.

Answer 4

cost of a PATENT can be huge.....& its no guarantee that the idea wont be taken offshore made & brought back to be sold cheap......copy write is free as long as you can prove it was your idea first...what I do with all my designs is put the down on paper..draw them up with all the new improvements you make as you develope the idea....seal them in an envelope & take them to the post office..get the postal officer to stamp across the seal & mail them to yourself...leave them sealed..in the event of a court case take the sealed envelope to court & get the judge to open it....(date stamped & proved its your idea by a govt department..the post office)