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[–] • 4 pts (edited )

I'm going to patent throwing bricks at communist sympathizers. I'll let you know my experience.

https://pic8.co/sh/0C2bdf.jpg

[–] • 2 pts

Oh yeah you're supposed to explain liberty bricks to me

[–] • 0 pt

Who told you to say that? ?

[–] • 2 pts

Like others have said, you need to do a patent search, and depending on complexity, you likely need a patent attorney. I went through the search process for an idea I had. It had been patented but was never taken to market.

[–] • 0 pt

This. First is the patent search. I would say do one yourself, before hiring a patent attorney. At some point, though, unless you want to make "getting a patent" your new job, you will need to turn it over to a patent atty. Keep a list of all the art you looked at, because it will save him some time and his time is YOUR money. So to be patentable, you have to have an idea that can be distinguished from the prior art, which isn't obvious to a Person of Ordinary Skill in the Art (POSITA). Something that is obvious is jargon -- it means something that is just a combination of a couple of things that already existed and were obvious to put together. Something like (bad example off the top of my head) putting a known airplane de-icing device on a car to solve a car icing problem. That would likely be considered obvious. Making a new de-icing system that is similar in concept to the plane version but has been changed to address specific needs of cars is something that is more patentable. Note that at the end of the day, what your patent will actually cover will be that new, novel idea MINUS what is already in the art. You will only be able to protect that one little part.

[–] • 2 pts

As long as there's no prior art or it's different enough from existing things, you can patent it. Doesn't mean anything other than you have a patent.

[–] • 1 pt

Yeah, but then I can license it to the company that will do something with it.

[–] • 1 pt

You assume someone wants it.

Licensing something <> patentability. The patent just gives you some small protection under the law for a time.

[–] • 1 pt

I know they will want it. I know the specific company that will want it. I work in the space with the people that will want it.

[–] • 0 pt

or they will change the design a little and patent it.

[–] • 0 pt

I don't think they could in this case

[–] • 0 pt

A company might bite, maybe not. They have lots of choices and what you present would be a future thing, not what they are concerned with right now.

[–] • 1 pt
[–] • 1 pt

Big companies have their employees take training on this kind of thing. I'd recommend searching around for some online patent courses so you can understand the basics (terminology, format, process, who to contact, etc.)

[–] • 1 pt

See also

[–] • 1 pt

I'm worried about the non-obvious part because it seems so obvious. But nobody has done it, so I guess it isn't obvious?

[–] • 1 pt

It's a real pain in the ass.

[–] • 0 pt

Yes. First, you can patent something if it is novel. So you need to go to google patents and search for your idea. If you find something similar, you need to see if your innovation is fundamentally different. Second, write up a brief. Add in images and diagrams outlining what you wish to protect. Once you have that, get a patent lawyer who will support you in correcting issues or language to be submitted. The lawyer is there to improve the chances of your patent being accepted. Then pay the fees. It will cost up to $10,000. You can submit it yourself without the lawyer and just pay the fees. But if you have never written patents before you will probably fail to be accepted if not done well.

Also don't self select out of submitting. Submit it. Let them tell you it doesn't pass.

FYI. I have 17 patents.

[–] • 0 pt

I've had a "Provisional Patent" a few years back. That is less expensive and gives you a year from that point to promote it at trade shows, personally to companies etc with out them being able to steal it. Nobody bit on mine, but after the year had passed a company did in fact make it as "public domain".Now they did actually improve it a little bit, but I still consider it stolen. A patent attorney is really expensive 5-10K+ depending on how complex. Look up on how to patent it yourself. My brother has 3 patents he did himself but he is also an architect so he knows how to draw it up with the right specs. Good luck man, I still have a few I am working on, need funding.