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I'm one of the little men
I've invented a process (not software) and have paid for the
patent search - $700. To actually get a patent I'm looking at
about another $7,000. I can, however, put in a Provisional
Patent Application, which will give me Pat. Pending status for 12
months. If there is no full ($7,000) application filed by then I
loose all rights. I can't sit on my bum and wait for companies to
come to me - as soon as the application is filed I have to put
Pat. Pending on it and start working with companies to sell it.
Since it takes about 3 months to file a full application I've got 9
months or I loose either the intellectual rights or the $7,000.

The simple fact is that the patent system only protects the little
man for a brief period of time, unless he has somewhat deep
pockets.
Posted by: Ken_z   Posted on: 02/09/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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GOOD  blenky | 02/09/06
...more  blenky | 02/09/06
Patents are for protecting intellectual property.  jimroar2000 | 02/09/06
Utopia  blenky | 02/09/06
I'm one of the little men  Ken_z | 02/09/06
There's the difference  blenky | 02/09/06
NPT didn't invent ANYTHING!!  Predrag Vasic | 02/09/06
One of it's partners did!  pics@... | 02/09/06
That may be true, but...  Predrag Vasic | 02/09/06
Not from what I read  voska | 02/09/06
Amen, As i've said before if you don't develpo it, then lose the rights (NT  Update victim | 02/09/06
A lesson on Patents....  Cayble | 02/09/06
Well stated.  blenky | 02/09/06
...And, as been eluded to,...  The King's Servant | 02/09/06
Good Point, but...  pics@... | 02/09/06
If the U.S. Patent Office only understood this !!! (NT)  Update victim | 02/09/06
use  zzgorme | 02/10/06
perpetual motion...  engrmerc | 02/12/06
A well-written but bad lesson. Why patents are so misunderstood.  alphachi | 02/13/06
Either you missed the point, or you do not get patent law....  Cayble | 02/26/06
Sorry, lost some of the messge there!  Cayble | 02/26/06
I somewhat agree, however  Update victim | 02/09/06
tax payers money  clockmendergb@... | 02/09/06
A lot of broad assumptions jimroar2000  billywill | 02/09/06
Interesting logic - let's ignore the USPO rulings  canuck_golfer | 02/09/06
Patent Search  Techanalyst | 02/10/06
jurisdiction....  engrmerc | 02/12/06
Prior Art  Sheeva | 02/16/06
What a joke!  techboy_z | 02/09/06
Ok techboy  blenky | 02/09/06
not an alumni and not Canadian  ttocsmij | 02/09/06
techboy may have just...  John Zern | 02/12/06
how it works  zzgorme | 02/09/06
Comparing Apples to Oranges  blenky | 02/09/06
squatting  zzgorme | 02/10/06
there is a difference...  engrmerc | 02/12/06
A breath of fresh air  Bruce_B2 | 02/09/06
Patent Holding Companies.  clockmendergb@... | 02/09/06
transfers  zzgorme | 02/10/06
Benefit of the community  biomedr | 02/18/06
So where are the details of the workaround?  jfranche@... | 02/09/06
RIM workaround  iswcky | 02/09/06
I second the "Good"  Narg | 02/09/06
Royalties  ljuly | 02/09/06
Workaround...  blenky | 02/09/06
The only way they would be 'loosers' would be...  Predrag Vasic | 02/09/06
Royalties  brichter | 02/09/06
Is this why BB halted their suit against MS?  ThinkAboutIt | 02/09/06
Has anyone read the NTP patent?  lamp299 | 02/09/06
Slew 'O Patents  jaytho | 02/09/06
Yes, I have.  DickCaro | 02/10/06
claims  zzgorme | 02/10/06
you missed it by "" much...  engrmerc | 02/12/06
patents  Ron406 | 02/09/06
works for me  ttocsmij | 02/09/06
Sounds like the work-around may not be so great  John Zern | 02/12/06
simple  engrmerc | 02/12/06
Revealed?  jacjar1 | 02/13/06

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