A question about patent application

[Johnson L]

I have an idea to develop a small embedded electronic device for a specific
application. I would also like to apply for a patent. Do I need to provide a
fully functional prototype for the patent application? Or a proof of concept
model is OK for this case?

Thank you.

Johnson

 

[krw]

I have an idea to develop a small embedded electronic device for a specific
application. I would also like to apply for a patent. Do I need to provide a
fully functional prototype for the patent application? Or a proof of concept
model is OK for this case?

Unless it's a perpetual motion machine, neither. Your application has
to only show "operability". Basically, it can't be obvious that
you're violating any fundamental law of the universe. ;=)

 

[David L. Jones]

I have an idea to develop a small embedded electronic device for a specific
application. I would also like to apply for a patent.

Why?
It's almost certainly going to result in a waste of money and time.

Do I need to provide a fully functional prototype for the patent
application? Or a proof of concept model is OK for this case?

You don't need anything physical for a patent application, just lots of
money to pay someone to write and file the application.

You'd be very wise to look at these tutorials first before you waste your
money:
http://www.tinaja.com/patnt01.asp

Dave.

 

[Nobody]

Hell the whatzits being patented does not have to be useful or
practical or even buildable!

Or novel, or non-obvious.

 

[Martin Brown]

Or novel, or non-obvious.

The only question USPTO seems to ask is "are your dollars green?".

But a patent is only worthwhile if you have deep enough pockets to
defend it against infringement.

Regards,
Martin Brown

 

[Johnson L]

OK, very negative comments but might be the bitter fact.However, I got a
question, what push a big company to buy a small company with so much money?
For example, Google to buy YouTube. Why Google just hire a dozen engineers
and make some "minor" changes to YouTube?

Johnson

 

[John Devereux]

OK, very negative comments but might be the bitter fact.However, I got a
question, what push a big company to buy a small company with so much money?
For example, Google to buy YouTube. Why Google just hire a dozen engineers
and make some "minor" changes to YouTube?

They would be buying the brand and the user base. There are several
areas where sufficient critical mass implies a monopoly that is hard
to attack. Ebay, paypal, youtube, google, intel, microsoft...

 

[[email protected]]

They would be buying the brand and the user base. There are several
areas where sufficient critical mass implies a monopoly that is hard
to attack. Ebay, paypal, youtube, google, intel, microsoft...

Gee, anyone use MS Live search? ;-)

Incidentally, patents are very valuable.....for trading in patent
lawsuits. ;-)

 

[David L. Jones]

OK, very negative comments but might be the bitter fact.However, I got a
question, what push a big company to buy a small company with so much
money? For example, Google to buy YouTube. Why Google just hire a dozen
engineers and make some "minor" changes to YouTube?

They are buying the name and the user base. It's got nothing to do with
patents.
Of course they can just put some programmers on it and come up with their
own solution, but people are USED to using YouTube, that's why it's
valuable.

Put your money into producing a good product and staying one step ahead of
any competitors. Patents will suck your money away and give you no advantage
what-so-ever, and that's guaranteed.

It's just like any company can tweak a few things and beat any patent you
get, it's so easy and usually cheaper than buying you out. Your only option
is to stay one step ahead of everyone else, and that's easy to do in these
niche applications.

Dave.

 

[David L. Jones]

One can easily write their own patent; start with patents on similar
devices.

Yes, it wouldn't be too hard for those keen enough to save money.
A patent attorney's job is to turn your nice and clear description into
complete gobledegoop that is technically accurate, but as un-reconstructable
and un-readable as possible.

File as a small entity; fees are about half of what a corporation would
pay (tho still not cheap).

In Australia it's only $70 or so to file an initial provisional claim, and
then you get 1 years grace to get your product out the door and making money
before having to decide if it's worthwhile to spend the extra dollars to go
for the full patent application. IIRC that is in the range of AU$3K for
Australia only, or AU$5K if you also want claims in the major countries.

Those costs are "pocket lint" compared to court costs if one wishes to
defent thsir patent against a theiving large corporation.

Less than pocket lint!

Dave.