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Have any of you received a patent?
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Throughout college I became fascinated with the idea of patenting an invention/idea and ultimately licensing it to a company. After graduating college now and starting work I put the thought of patenting my ideas was put aside until recently. Have any of you applied and received a patent on your own, not through your company? If so, did you license the patent?
Top Comment: The worth of a patent entirely depends on how you can defend it. It's generally cheaper for companies to cheese around existing patents, and defend it with lawyers when it's needed. Not only that but since everyone can see your patent, everyone can copy it (just not legally, but go ask Russia or China). This is why WD-40 has no patent. This is why Coca Cola did not patent their recipe.
What is your experience with patents? Seeking advice/wisdom.
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I have a couple ideas which i believe have significant industrial applications, and are within my wheelhouse to design/prototype. I don't necessarily want to get into the manufacturing of these products, but i would be interested in selling or leasing the patents. Those of you who have gone through the process of selling or licensing patents, what did you do right? What did you do wrong? Did you leave any opportunities on the table that you wish you knew about or understood?
On the flip side, if you're a patent lawyer, what mistakes do your clients make? Common misconceptions?
Edit: Thanks everyone for the thought out answers. Really highlights some misconceptions that i can dive deeper into.
Top Comment: These questions are literally what you pay an IP professional to answer for you
How detailed do your plans need to be to get a patent?
Main Post: How detailed do your plans need to be to get a patent?
Patent Examiner advice
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Hey all, I'm looking to get into patent law but I'm not sure yet whether to commit to a law degree first. My field would be Chemical Engineering and I have about 6 years of experience as an on site engineer in chemical manufacturing/refining in a technology/design role. I have a Bachelors.
What would you recommend for me? I was thinking either doing the Patent Bar and seeing if I can get a job as a patent agent but not sure if I'd get hired with no law background. Patent examiner seems interesting to me for the training and how they also can eventually pay for my law degree if I want to continue down that path, but I'm not sure how often they'd want to hire someone over a new graduate.
Top Comment: It can't hurt to apply. Many supervisory patent examiners (managers who hire new examiners) prefer experience over fresh out of school.
How do I file a patent in America by myself?
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I’ve seen a lot of posts where people ask a similar question but are told they should get a patent attorney to properly protect their idea.
Honestly, in my case, I just want to file a vanity patent to get that inventor tag. I have no intention or care for protecting my idea.
Is there is a guide to doing this somewhere without paying attorney fees?
Top Comment: I just want to file a vanity patent to get that inventor tag Don't. Just don't. First of all, you don't just have to pay fees to the attorney, but also official fees to the USPTO. These are quite low, but still, it's money. Second, you don't just "file a patent", you file a patent application. Until the patent is granted, it takes a whole lengthy and complicated process, and without the help of a patent professional, you're unlikely to make it to the end. Finally, vanity is dumb. If you're inventor, you're an inventor, you don't need an official "tag" to prove it.
How expensive is it to patent?
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Hi, how expensive is it to get a utility patent? I heard it can be anywhere from 20-30k!!!! For a lawyer and fees. Anyone have any experience or advice for cost effective patenting?
Top Comment: It costs a lot more for multinational. Assuming you get the patent, can you then afford to litigate it? That costs even more. There is no cost effective patenting. You can do it yourself but the result probably won't have much value.