Comments on: Inventors look for cash, recognition at patent auction

Patents may have a bad reputation with some segments of the public, but inventors say it's the only way to prevent big companies from owning everything.

[gary sayre]

patents

Patents are very expensive to get and remain out of reach for every day people like myself. I have a great Idea for a new internal combustion engine, with only two moving parts, yet allows over ninety percent of the power to transfer to the shaft or, Power Take Off. My last Idea I shared with a supposed reputable orgainazition was stolen from me because I did not have the 10,000.00 for a patent search. It is very tuff
to get a patent!!!!

[sanenazok]

$10K for a patent search??

Go to the patent office website and look through patents yourself. It's free, but boring I know. They have search tools and good help. I've done this myself with some of my own ideas to see what's out there patented and was very surprised.

When it comes to getting the patent itself, it's not the end of the world. Just read some of the registered patents - it's no brain surgery just sit in one place for a week or so to write up your invention. The patent office is even obligated to help inventors who file their own patents AND there are a couple paperbacks (available at your public library) about getting a patent by yourself. It's a matter of doing the work yourself or paying someone else to do it for you for $10k. Very few individuals, like myself, have that kind of money, but at least you should be passionate about your invention to actually want to do the leg work.

If someone stole your invention write a letter to the patent office, hopefully identifying the patent you're talking about and what you think they stole. At least your letter has a chance of coming up should the patent holders try and sue someone (which is unlikely since the vast majority of patents are useless).

[kwhittingham]

Patents don't protect the poor

After working in a reasearch lab for several years I am now very sceptic vis-a-vis patents. 1) Sure the idea is good - protect the small guys from the big guys but it works the other way around. Just look who owns all the patents. 2) Most inventions pushed through are not 'not-obvious', see the idea quoted in the article - *of course* its a good idea to jump to message 10! 3) Patents last too long. 5 years is just fine. 4) Most invented products rely 99% on public domain (open source) IP and 1% on the inventor's ideas. How ethical is that?

[daftkey]

The poor inventors work for the patent holders.

Or in other words "after working in a research lab for several years, I realize that the lab, and not the people working there, own the patent - and as a person working there and putting in the long hours, *I* should get the patent."

Of course, the reason that mostly universities, governments, and corporations own the patents is because they take the risks and front the money for research and development. Funny thing, when you're paid a salary or an hourly wage, guaranteed, on someone else's dime, that you wouldn't get the recognition - the risk-taker does.

Of course, it DID keep you, the little guy, employed for a while, didn't it?

[laptopburka]

Ideas and patents go hand in hand . If one has a marketable idea that is makeable and hasnt been done before then by all means file for a patent . More often than not you hear the story about the person who did not file or properly file for a patent and it was stolen. Do you have an idea ? Beleave in yourself first . Most people out there are followers not leaders of ideas . Stop being like the rest and follow your dream. If your not sure about how to do it contact the patent office they will help. If you really beleave in your idea pay for help it pays off.