Anyone here ever had/applied for a patent?

mykulmorris

mykulmorris

Joined
Jul 8, 2007
Messages
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I have an idea (completely non knife related) that might be a good one (I've told it to a couple in the family) and was wondering about getting a patent. Is it difficult? Costly? How do I know the patent person I work with will be honest? Thanks.
-M
 
I have quite a few patents.

In this day and age of the Internet, you can do quite a bit of the leg work yourself. But you should still have a lawyer specialized in patents help you out as patents -- and, with them, sometime hundreds millions of dollars -- can turn on the choice of a single word.
 
Not to be a party pooper or anything, but what do you expect that a patent will do for you besides cost you $$$? A patent is only as good as your ability to defend it. That generally requires a lawyer which will cost $$$$. The government will not defend your patent.

I guess that it would be neat to have a patent, but consider what you expect it to accomplish vs what it will cost you.

BTW, I am not just blathering here. I have observed first hand what it takes to defend a patent.
 
mykulmorris said:
I have an idea (completely non knife related) that might be a good one (I've told it to a couple in the family) and was wondering about getting a patent. Is it difficult? Costly? How do I know the patent person I work with will be honest? Thanks.
-M
Click to expand...

I worked for years for inventors and IP attorneys doing patent illustrations, development and prototyping. If done right, it can be rewarding. If done wrong it can be a waste of time and money.

Look at some of the books available on patenting like this one from Nolo Press.

As was mentioned, hire a competent patent attorney. The value up a patent is in the wording, what is claimed and what is excluded. And have a plan to market your invention (or more profitably, the patent) once it is issued.
 
A friend of mine is working on an automotive patent. He says the paperwork is a little daunting, but he thinks he will get it accepted. He has not told me the nature of the patent and I have advised him that I do not wish to know, as this may cloud the issue. I did tell him he might want to consider a patent attorney. He just recently got one. He had a problem finding one, as he said attorney retainers are expensive.
 
UffDa said:
Not to be a party pooper or anything, but what do you expect that a patent will do for you besides cost you $$$? A patent is only as good as your ability to defend it. That generally requires a lawyer which will cost $$$$. The government will not defend your patent.

I guess that it would be neat to have a patent, but consider what you expect it to accomplish vs what it will cost you.

BTW, I am not just blathering here. I have observed first hand what it takes to defend a patent.
Click to expand...

As have I. Uffda is correct.

My patents are classified.:grumpy: No real use to me, but ... what the heck.:o
 
I used to work in R&D and have a bunch of patents. The place where I used to work had a philosophy that if it wasn't worth at least $100,000 fighting it in court, they wouldn't seek a patent on the device. Unless you are going to vigorously defend it, a patent's usually not worth it for most people. A trade secret makes more sense for a lot of things.
 
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