[Woodcarver] chat - off topic - copyrights

[Byron]

Joe's is very correct. Plus there's a lot of other work to be accomplished prior to spending the money on a patent. The search for "prior art" can be time consuming and costly. I've seen this happen several times. That doesn't  mean just a search of US patents. Example, in the past few years a patent was issued, after it was issued somebody else came of with idea indepently and started to produce a competing product. A patent search found the recently issued patent after an earlier search missed it. A subsequent search found a Japanese pre-patent paper on the same thing. The pre-patent had been filed about 8 years prior to any other patent application. "Prior Art" made the issued patent unsupportable.  If you miss something the money put into your patent is gone and your patent is worthless.  

There's also a pretty large expense in attempting to monitor for infringements and maintaining said patent. 

What does a patent do?
A couple of things. 1. Public disclosure of information about your idea.
2. Gives you the right to sue anybody that infringes on your patent.
That's about all a patent will do for you, the little guy.

Best advice I can give, is not to try and patent, but to try and find somebody in the appropiate industry that would be willing to take on the idea. Yes, you take a chance on them taking the idea and leaving you with nothing. But, the chances are you'll end up with nothing trying on your own. 


-----Original Message-----
From: Joe Dillett <jdillett at thecarvingshop.com>
Sent: Mar 29, 2005 10:05 AM
To: "[Woodcarver]" <woodcarver at six.pairlist.net>
Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] chat - off topic - copyrights

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Hi Wynne,

Copyrights and patents are two different things. It sounds like your son
might be interested in a patent rather than a copyright.

Patent law is a speciality and I suggest he call an attorney who specializes
in that area of the law. The initial call for the answer to your question
should not cost that much. I wouldn't make any move without a qualified
attorney. There is much more to it than just taking out a patent. Things
like you must take it to market within a year or loose the patent are
critical issues that only a qualified attorney can give advice on.

Copyrights are a lot easier to understand and apply more to our work as
woodcarvers and authors. You can get information and forms at
http://www.copyright.gov/forms/

Joe Dillett
The Carving Shop
645 E. LaSalle St. Suite 3
Somonauk, IL. 60552
(815) 498-9290 phone
(815) 498-9249 fax
http://www.thecarvingshop.com
jdillett at thecarvingshop.com
http://www.carvingmagazine.com Carving Magazine web site and Readers Forum
http://community.webshots.com/user/joe_dillett
http://www.citizenactions.org
http://www.safeguardsystemsinc.com
**************************************************


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Wynne Simmons" <wyndysim at graceba.net>
To: <woodcarver at six.pairlist.net>
Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2005 9:40 AM
Subject: [Woodcarver] chat - off topic - copyrights


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>


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> I'm sorry to post this to the List, but I remember there were some
> people here who are knowledgeable about copy rights & patents, and I'm
> not sure where else to get reliable info about this.
>
>
>
> My son is working on an invention and needs to know what to do to keep
> his idea safe as he develops & markets it.  Anyone have any good sources
> of info or advice?
>
>
>
> Wynne Simmons
>
> Ashford, Alabama
>
> wyndysim at graceba.net
>
> http://www.wiregrassalpacas.com <http://www.wiregrassalpacas.com/>
>
> http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=6
> <http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=6&uid=138062&> &uid=138062&
>
>
>
>
>
>


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