how to find out if an idea has already been developed

[startupguy]

Hello

i have a technical/business idea, can you guys tell me how to find out if some one has already developed a similar idea as yet.

i have tried to do a google search but have not been able to come up with anything yet.

[Pilfo]

Is it patentable?

Pilfo

[Bouldr]

I wouldn't worry about your idea having been done before - there is always room for competition. Paul Graham (someone whose work I read a lot of) sums this up perfectly:

Looking just at existing competitors can give you a false sense of security. You should compete against what someone else could be doing, not just what you can see people doing.

No matter what your idea, there's someone else out there working on the same thing.

I wouldn't worry too much about it; If it is a good idea, then it probably has already been done, and if not then it is either a bad idea or as soon as you launch, the competition will follow your lead.

Of course, if it is patentable, then a search of the patent database will tell you fairly quickly.

[startupguy]

thanks for the replies

it does seem to be patentable as a system (hardware + software) , though the individual components are covered by prior patents. should i apply for a european patent?
if it is granted in europe, can anybody apply for a patent elsewhere in the world.

if it has already been patented in some form, can i still try and do a system with some modifications, e.g. a different way of revenue generation using an already patented system

[DuaneJackson]

For patents issues you need to speak to Phillip at www.crossguard.info (http://www.crossguard.info)
As to whether it's been done before Bouldrs comments pretty much sum it up.

When we first launched KashFlow, hardly anyone else was doing anything like it. Now there are loads of others.

I see it as confirmation that it's a good idea rather than a threat and it keeps us on our toes.

[startupguy]

thanks for the reply duane

does philip specialise in filing & protecting patents for individuals/startups?

[DuaneJackson]

You're best to ask him, he'd be able to tell you what he does a lot better than I can!

Good luck with it.

[mia]

Well do a quick search on google and relevent websites. having said that it doesn't really matter ifthe idea has already been developed as long as you have some unique value to add on. Competition is a fact of business, besides just because a product is out there, does not make it successful.