Patent idea's......

oz_valdo

Hi all :hello: ,

Long story........

I have designed an item which i need to apply for a patent for. I recently got a quote from a patent attorney in excess of £2000 for the initial application. I feel it is absolutely essential for me to use an attorney, as am lacking in legal knowledge and although this figure came as a bit of a shock :eek: , i understand it is the going rate.

What i would like to know is if there is any help, grants, loans etc out there that i could apply for without having to disclose my idea. I am currently involved with Nwes, Weetu and Jobcentre plus, am doing market research to help complete my business plan, but am in a bit of a catch 22. I need to show my 'prototype' to potential customers to enable me to get some feedback, and of course need to apply for my patent before i can do this (and before i can present my business plan to banks etc).

The main problem is that I'm an almost 30 yr old mum of 2 boys and am currently in receipt of benefits. I have 2 (largish) long term outstanding debts which are being dealt with by collection agencies satisfactorily, and also have 2 small loans (totalling less than £350) with 'doorstep' lenders. I rent my home (no security) and dont have a good credit score therefore will find it difficult to get a loan (although once patent is applied for, will be able to present a sound business plan and offers will be flooding in..........).

I have looked into a business angel (would have to disclose idea and present business plan), princes trust, who can possibly help, on completion of business plan, bank loans (honestly, not a chance) and have spent the whole weekend hoping for a little divine intervention.

I know many of you may be thinking "On benefits and trying to start a business??" and thats fine, but after my son being diagnosed with a lifelong disability recently, i have become almost obsessed with providing lifelong financial stability and have a fabulous opportunity to do just that.

Well, congrats and thanks for reading this far. If anyone has any idea's on how i can finance the patent process without selling any organs, please do post.........

Oz_valdo x
:xmastree:

richt71

Have you looked up your local business davice centre - most towns have one. They are funded by the government to give you independant advice and will certainly point you inthe direction of any grants etc. I've found mine very good.

joggyb

following on from richt71's advice - go to https://www.businesslink.gov.uk, and get hold of your local businesslink lot from there. They should have a list of grants, business angels, and so on. I think there might even be such a list on the main site.

you're right to be very careful about not disclosing your idea to anyone, as doing so could jeopardise registration of your patent. On the other hand, if you're in need of funding, I'm not sure quite how you get round this! It might be an idea to go back to your patent attorney and ask for his/her advice - you can't be the only one who's ever tried to do this...

good luck - really hope you get the finance from somewhere, and that you can cash in on your idea. :T

Kilty_2

First thing to do is get your idea down on paper and post it to yourself recorded delivery. Do not open the envelope when it arrives (make sure you seal it before sending it with something that will show it hasnt been opened).

This will show that you had the idea on the date the letter was posted and should anything happen you have proof that it was your idea.

ukbill69

Also email yourself from a few email different email accounts, so its got the time and date stamp on it. Also if your sure the idea is going to work, then if you have a good credit history, get a loan out and say its for a car purchaise or get a credit card and pay with that. There are many 0% deals, good one is capital one offering 18 months free interest. Have a look at the credit card forums for more ideas. Get that idea patented right away, dont delay, also register any website names to. Get .com .net .co.uk .eu domain names, these should cost you about £10 per year each. All I say is good luck with your idea and hope it works.

alanobrien

Cost depends on the patent coverage i.e. UK, Europe USA etc etc.

Just a thought but have you looked at the option of design registration ?
This is much cheaper than a patent and is as effective in many ways.

Some detail here for you to look at;

http://www.intellectual-property.gov.uk/faq/designs/what.htm

WHA

Have a look at the following website which gives a lot of help, links, hints and tips for inventors etc.

http://www.two-little-ducks.co.uk/

MORPH3US

Hi OP,

I spend my working life helping people start their own businesses and signposting them to help with IP and related fields....

Can I ask where you are based? I can probably suggest some organisations that you haven't approached yet that would be able to help....

oz_valdo wrote:

I know many of you may be thinking "On benefits and trying to start a business??" and thats fine,

Quite the opposite thoughts from me (not that it matters what anyone thinks) but I say good on you for trying to start a business rather than just trundling along in life and going nowhere..... good luck!!!

savedup

Hi

I am not an expert in this field, but I have heard that you may be able to get a confidentiality agreement drawn up by a lawyer - this will allow you to discuss some of the details of your product with suitable backers, provided they sign this agreement - that forbids them exploiting your ideas.

If this is possible, it may be useful in your situation.


I hope this is helpful - and good luck with your new venture !!

oz_valdo

Hi All,
Thanks for your support, advice and links.
Kilty, I'm sure that i read your fabulously clever idea about posting the details to myself in another post (if that makes sense!), maybe you should patent the idea........lol!

Alanobrien, i have considered design registration, but seeing that my 'item' is (as far as i know) completely unique, a DR wouldnt give me the kind of protection i require. However, thanks for your help.

Morph3us, I am in Kings Lynn (norfolk) and am involved in Nwes, Weetu and have had some advice from the Princes Trust, so anyone else you could recommend, please do. And i just wanted to thank you so much for your encouragement (you see i dont just expect a handout and am willing to work my a**e off, just need a little inspiration at a desperate low point).

Oz_valdo x

alanobrien

oz_valdo wrote:

Hi All,
Alanobrien, i have considered design registration, but seeing that my 'item' is (as far as i know) completely unique, a DR wouldnt give me the kind of protection i require. However, thanks for your help.
Oz_valdo x

Not necessarily true as DR protection levels vary from country to country.
It really depends on the area you are registering it in. I know from experience that a design registration can be even stronger than a patent, why ? because a patent relies on a description of form and function which is easy to circumvent.

A good example of this is the tippy cup, invented by a woman in the UK patented and then copied worldwide by a simple design change.

A design registration is all about the look and feel of an object and is therefore difficult to circumvent. The point being that at the end of the day a copied design would end up in front of a judge and if the judge states the look and feel is the same as the original then the copier is stuffed.
.....Been there......done that

One other point, if you do patent something, if another party does come up with prior art they can use the design regardless of patent status.

There is a move afoot to unify DR regs through Europe but in some countries Australia being a good example DR is actually stronger than a patent.

Again i know this after having just dealt with company legals on an infringement issue in that area.

Anyway, good luck with your idea and welcome to the minefield of invention !