Patents

[Zektor]

Has anyone on here had any experience obtaining a patent on a new idea?

I have produced a prototype of an idea I think hasn't been thought of before. Looking at obtaining a patent on it but it seems long winded, is it worth it?]

 

[RGP]

Trademarks and patents are always worth getting so long as you can express the technology correctly in your application.

if you're considering patents you must think you have marketability.

If you need investors patents will help swing it in a lot of cases.

The process is a little long winded but do it. Theres a whole marketing timeline that can be followed.

Register a trademark asap for your product if you're looking to build a brand.

And get a NDA organised for everyone involved.

Sorry if it all sounds heavy handed but ideas need protecting - trust me, the most dangerous time is while you're thinking about it and talking to a few friends etc someone else can be stealing it and first to market without proof otherwise will get a decision in a court wrangle.

i have had a number of ideas stolen in the early 2000's all for sitting talking with friends in a restaurant you never know who is sat at the next table.

Get your idea straight, on paper, seal it and either mail it to yourself and never open it or get a public notary to validate and seal the document (doesn't have to read it) then place it with a vault or solicitor as proof of idea while you consider the next step into patents etc.

 

[DrGlitch]

I didn't think you could patent 'ideas', I thought that they had to be formalised as a design / schematic?

Perhaps it's the distinction between copyrights and patents.

I'm just a doofus but the IPO website is useful and they've helped me in the past.

 

[DrGlitch]

http://www.ipo.gov.uk/types/copy/c-applies/c-applies-faq/c-applies-faq-ideas.htm

It might just be a minor point, but this was what I meant - you protect the EXPRESSION of the idea, not the idea itself.

 

[Zektor]

Right, thanks for the info guys, I'll take a look at the links.

I think the product is very marketable, in fact I can't understand why someone else hasn't thought of it before now.