Patenting Advice

[Aegis]

3D printed. Prototyped. Ready to roll in to production product.

Now... patenting. Yes I've searched and no it doesn't (shockingly) exist.

Consequently I'm very leary I'm not potentially placing someone(s) in a position to take what I feel is an incredibly solid product concept from me.

All and any help is appreciated.

 

[pentel]

Searching for a patent is only part of the process. Lots of things exist without a patent and if they do they cant then be patented.

Obtaining (and maintaining) a patent can be very expensive (currently £6160 to protect for 20 years, UK only) and what it give you is the right to protect your idea. It does not enforce that right. It is up to you to chase any infringements through the courts, which again can be very expensive

 

[fisicx]

As @pentel suggested, having the patent won’t stop anyone stealing your idea. All it might do is give you an edge in court.

However, try taking a Chinese factory to court and see how expensive it gets.

 

[Frank the Insurance guy]

Obtaining (and maintaining) a patent can be very expensive (currently £6160 to protect for 20 years, UK only) and what it give you is the right to protect your idea. It does not enforce that right. It is up to you to chase any infringements through the courts, which again can be very expensive

Insurance is available that can either pay legal costs to defend you if others allege you have copied their idea, or "attack" others you think have infringed your own patent. Cost is dependent on full details of the product and how "unique" it is.

 

[Mark T Jones]

You first need to be absolutely clear on what you are patenting & why.

You can't patent an idea, you can patent a process or a technology (possibly other things)

Dyson is the king of patents - and of defending them. A Dyson vacuum cleaner may have 20 patents - but being filterless isn't one because it isn't in itself a technology.

 

[MikeJ]

Go and see a patent lawyer.