OT: Does anybody know about filing patents?

[Shamoan]

I have a product I am thinking about getting a patent on and was wondering if anyone had experience with this. Any entrepreneurs out there? From modest internet research, a utility patent can run about 3-4K for a patent lawyer and patent research but who knows...


i watch shark tank, so that and the internet is all I know.

 

[skydawg1]

I had an idea once.

View attachment 6503

 

[DancingRabbit]

Take your best shot

 

[Bulldogg31]

Thought about reaching out to the business school at State? They do a lot of work with entrepreneurs.

 

[woozman]

I have a friend that is working on one now and he is expecting it to run him around $7K.

 

[Dawgbite]

I did a patent 15 years ago on an idea I had. I don't remember the exact cost but I think it ended up over $15000. I had to submit 3 times because every time the patent office would find wording that conflicted with some French patent from the 1800s or something like that. I don't know of a patent attorney in Ms, I used a firm out of Houston Tx and another Houston Firm in subsequent lawsuits, three to date. Houston seems to be a hotbed for patent attorneys due to NASA and the oil industry. Just remember that a patent will keep an honest man honest but a thief will find a way around it. I am in the middle of my third infringement suit and both my original attorney who submitted the patent and the litigation attorney have advised me to settle because I'm 30,000 in now and it will cost another 200,000-300,000 to take it all the way to court. This guy took my product and my patent to an attorney and told him to find a loophole and they did. My attorney said I have a 50-50 case depending on the judge. The patent was worth the investment because it has kept several copycats at bay that I know of and probably many that I do not know of.

I can get you some attorney names and numbers together if you want. My original attorney is retired but still advises me when the need arises. He might be a good place to start.

 

[dorndawg]

http://www.oett.msstate.edu/inventors/faq.php#invention

They used to not do much for just random people with an invention, but it looks like that may have changed? If after looking over all that in the link & you're still serious about it, call Donna in that office with any questions. She's awesome.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

We looked into patenting something for a duck hunting product and it was going to cost us well over 10 grand when it was all said and done.

 

[bulldogcountry1]

If it's a perpetual energy patent, don't bother.

 

[engie]

Are you sure the idea is patentable -- and are you intending to follow thru with production yourself?

Like has been said, patents are often not worth the trouble, unless it's something that you are sure you'll make a million on -- and such a broad idea that it'll be tough to infringe upon.

Im basically an inventor -- and have never chased the patent rabbit very far. In my experience that time, energy, $$ is better spent getting mass production on p's and q's, figuring out marketing, and flooding the market. By the time someone reverse engineers and undercuts the scheme, you've made the clean $$ on the front end to reinvest in the next, ideally larger, scheme.

 

[thatsbaseball]

Is it an idea you stole off of this board ? I`ve seen some pretty innovative stuff come through here**

 

[GloryDawg]

There are lawyers who handle that stuff. The cost of the patent fees and then what ever the lawyer charges. There is a lot of research that has to take place to make sure no has done it already. You have people who file for those things randomly just in case some one comes up with a idea and they can make money on it.

 

[MississippiHeavyMetalDog]

Multiple your attorney estimate by 2.0 - 2.5. We were told $5k. Ended up $10k. Make sure that you apply for an international patent instead of just a U.S. one. Act quickly after you obtain otherwise you will pay the attorney again in a few years to renew it.

 

[aTotal360]

Im basically an inventor

 

[MTNDawg.sixpack]

Although construction litigation is my day-to-day practice,I'm a patent attorney

Your first step would be to perform a novelty/patentability search to make sure, as many have said on here, that someone hasn't already patented your invention. Depending on the complexity/field of the invention, you are looking at between $500 and $1500 to run that search (our third-party vendor rates based on volume). Send me a PM and I can get you started on the right foot without having to hire an attorney. Free advice for a fellow bulldog - I know, words rarely spoken by an attorney.

I have a product I am thinking about getting a patent on and was wondering if anyone had experience with this. Any entrepreneurs out there? From modest internet research, a utility patent can run about 3-4K for a patent lawyer and patent research but who knows...


i watch shark tank, so that and the internet is all I know.

 

[ronpolk]

I have a product I am thinking about getting a patent on and was wondering if anyone had experience with this. Any entrepreneurs out there? From modest internet research, a utility patent can run about 3-4K for a patent lawyer and patent research but who knows...


i watch shark tank, so that and the internet is all I know.

I thought for sure you had a future in coaching**

Just kidding, hope whatever you're working on is successful.

 

[Dawgbite]

I'm basically an Athletic Director.

Your first step would be to perform a novelty/patentability search to make sure, as many have said on here, that someone hasn't already patented your invention. Depending on the complexity/field of the invention, you are looking at between $500 and $1500 to run that search (our third-party vendor rates based on volume). Send me a PM and I can get you started on the right foot without having to hire an attorney. Free advice for a fellow bulldog - I know, words rarely spoken by an attorney.

And I'm pretty sure that I have stayed in a Holiday Inn Express before. This is the guy you need to talk to! ​Free legal patent advice is unheard of.

 

[MarkDallas]

It's probably not a great idea to post with a patent attorney in the thread, but here is my experience from research a few years back:

They have tried to make it easier on the little guy. You can file as a individual/small business with minimal documentation and reduced fees to get a "patent pending" designation. You then have a year to file full documentation. They have a pretty good walk-though of the process on the USPTO site.

Also, the US switched a few years back from "first-to-invent" to "first-to-file". That means that it doesn't matter who came up with the idea first, the first person to file the patent gets it. So if infringement is something you're worried about, it might be a good idea to get that preliminary application in and then figure out where to go from there.

 

[WrapItDog]

If it's a perpetual energy patent, don't bother.

You must have watched the documentary "Newman".

 

[MTNDawg.sixpack]

Mark is right - you can get reduced fees with limited documentation. Also, what he is referring to as "patent pending" is a provisional application. The documentation is much less extensive and technical, and I explain it as holding your place in line at the earlier filing date. You then you have a year to file a non-provisional application claiming the filing date from your provisional application, and if that application is successfully prosecuted, your patent will issue with the filing date from your provisional application.

I would never critique your experience, Mark. The USPTO makes my head spin much of the time.

 

[EngDawg]

Soak it in Dales for a week***

 

[Dawgbite]

Its a spray to cause genetic mutation in Mole Crickets so that they secrete Dales Steak Sauce from their sandy vaginas!

 

[BulldogBlitz]

It's a Dale's recycling unit.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

It's a Dale's recycling unit.

damn

 

[Shamoan]

I'm still proofing the prototype, but if it works like I anticipate, i will be moving forward with the idea to protect it. Mostly, I'm scared of someone taking the idea and making a few million off of it and me getting left behind because I made a mis-step. Patent (pending) to production if proofed should be a relatively short turnaround. I have searched the us patent office and haven't seen anything remotely close, but I'm a novice.

 

[woozman]

Haven't heard that name in a while. He lived about a mile through the woods from my parents house in Lucedale. Odd dude...