I have an invention, what do i do now?

CarlyA

I had a bright idea today and wondered what i should do with it. Who do i tell? I need to know if anyone else has thought of it and if not, how i protect it and how i tell the right people about it to see if it's got potential.

Anyone know?

Cheers

scheming_gypsy

you'll need to patent the idea and probably leave a copy of the idea with a solicitor. That way if you go to a company and tell them about the idea and they like it you're covered if they try and steal it.

elvis_bloggs

The last time I heard the price of a patent it was £1000 and that was years ago.

Mr_Skint_2

Well my Father has had 4 inventions patented
if you want to PM me I can get loads of info off of him.

Or I can just ask him and post it here, Do'h

CarlyA

Thanks a lot guys. Mind you - £1000! Can i owe them if the idea takes off!?

Mr Skint, any info you can post would be vey much appreciated, thank you.

Mr_Skint_2

Just phoned Father for 30mins, and here goes.

Well the first thing to do is to keep what ever you are inventing a secret to friends and family, but you can say that you have got an invention but dont say what.

Research is paramount you must research research research, but of course without giving the game away, the internet is a good place to start as long as you know your keywords, the reason for research is to find out if the idea has already been made, or thought of as some inventers blab.

You must develop the idea aswell, in other words keep all prototypes, and design ideas, and show that you have brought the invention from, a thought to something tactile, and also develop it in the sense that when you aproach a company for processing your idea there is no mistake in what they are looking at and they have a good grasp as to what you are trying to sell/produce.

Models are also a good idea of getting an idea across to people.

A registered trademark

These are quite useless if you have done your research and found that your invention is unique in the fact that it has never been done before, as with a trademark anyone can view your finished product and alter it, tus taking sales away from you by muscling in on your sales/profit.

Patent

A patent Application is a lot dearer than a Registered Trademark, but this is more binding i.e If anyone copies your idea they are at fault, But you must make sure your idea invention is unique, A patent attorney will do this for you and they do charge a bi, but they close all doors to anyone who wants to put out the same invention as long as your idea was patented first.

After you are sure of your idea/invention and have all the wording/details correct and a model or diagrams you can approach a Patent Attorney, and they will submit your invention on your behalf to the Patent office.

This maybe returned with a good or bad report i.e it has already been invented or there are similarities in design or has a previous application by somebody else has lapsed, this means that you cannot continue with your invention.

But in conjunction with this you should request that a search be carried out to find out if the idea has already have a patent by some other inventor, or ask if you can request a search on your invention before an actual application is submitted.

A search will usually be carried out 6mths after the patent has been submitted.

The search can cost around £350
Initial Patent Application can cost £2000.00

Not forgetting whether you want a UK only Patent, EEC Patent and so and so forth, the reason for patents in other countries is so you can hol sole owner ship of a product, But if you just get a UK Patent someone in china can make the same product and sell it in the UK thus under cutting cost and pushing you out of the race.

A US Patent is about £15000.00, Yep a lot of money.

Do not bother going to the DTI as they will only help you if you give them money for nowt in return so you might aswell do it yourself, as in my Dads own words its just a boys club full of w*****s.

Once youve done your ground work I would sugest contacting:
Gillian Whitfield at http://www.astrum-ip.com/

And also just try, http://www.patent.gov.uk/

I give this advice as best I can so dont quote me.

BFG_2

Whatever you do don't answer any of those ad's on the TV or in the newspapers from companies that claim to help you with you invention.

All they do is scam you - they tell you it's a fantastic idea (even if it's patently (couldn't resist the pun) cr4p), and then tell you how they can do a survey/research (for a fee of course).

You pay the money and get a standard report with your name on the front. They then find other ways to get money from you. No use whatsoever....

REPEAT - AVOID,THEY ARE JUST A COMPLETE RIP-OFF.

mountainofdebt

With regards getting a patent you will need a specialist firm that deals with this sort of issues day in day out.

Where are you....my sister worked for a very reputable company and can give you their name and telephone no if you want...I warn you now its not cheap!

Rebecca22

UK filing costs are very low compared to many other countries, particularly the US. This does mean you are only covered in the UK, but you have a year from the filing date of the UK patent to file and be protected in any other countries (called claiming priority). You can actually file without payment of any fee but nothing will be done with the application until you pay the £30 application fee and about another £100 for preliminary examination. This examination just makes sure everything is in the right format and any drawings are drawn to correct specifications (drawings cost around £50 per page). You then pay around £70 for substantive examination, which is a search for any patents that may already exist that are similar to your idea.

The Patent Office website https://www.patent.gov.uk is very helpful, as is the advice line

Jnelhams

BEFORE you spend £1000 on a Patent, a good and practical thing to do is this.

Write all the details of your idea down, date it , put them in an envelope and address it to yourself, next go to the post office send it first class and ask for a certificate of posting. When it arrives, DO NOT OPEN it, lock it away along with your certificate of posting. By doing this for 30p you have evidence in a court of law that you were first!

Eagle_1

You could always PM me your idea and i will tell you how good the idea actually is :rotfl: :rotfl: