James Neill

iTrader: (1)

Well actually an idea for an invention that I've been giving a lot of thought to lately. It's unique and if it works, its value in money will easily outweigh the cost. And the market is about as large as it gets too.

So the question is how do I go about exploiting this? Do I need to build it, patent it or market it? How do I do this and in which order?

Regards
James

STi wanna Subaru

iTrader: (1)

A Muslim only killing nuke?!

DCI Gene Hunt

Patent office..........NOW, GO , Run like the WIND...... before someone else patents the re-useable tampon....

The Chief

What is it?

PM me if you want. i'll tell you if its worth doing?

stilover

Get it on Dragons Den.

If it's a really good idea, they'll want 50% of your company.

If it's a cr@p idea, Duncan Banantyne will invest. Dr. Cap anyone

WHEELSHOP0_0

Patent, build, market. In that order.(seems to be the order for me).

DCI Gene Hunt

or even Patent, market, build........ you can always sell an idea......

Nick100

James
It depends on what it is - if there is something unique in the manufacturing process, you can keep this secret and you don't need to patent it.
Patenting it is the most obvious, but this is expensive. You WILL need a good patent lawyer and it is likely to cost £10- 20K to complete, depending on where you want patent coverage - UK, Europe, US....
If it is unlikely or difficult for someone to copy, you may not need to patent it.

If you do want to patent it in the UK, you must not have told anyone about it first, unless you have a "Non-Discolsure Agreement" in place beforehand. Otherwise, you invalidate your right to patent it as it has become public knowledge. The rules are different in the US - you have up to a year after commercialising it to file a patent.

Your patent should be based on tried and tested work, so normally need to build it first, then patent what you found, then market it. Otherwise, you may find some small detail in the build and test process, you hadn't thought of and is then missing from the patent.

Fat Boy

or, of course, the elegant Patent, Sell the rights whilst retaining a rewarding royalty.....No need to do anything as mucky as building

DCI Gene Hunt

Unless counting cash is considered 'mucky'.........

Chip Sengravy

I had an idea the other week for a gadget that would screw on top of a drinks bottle and revitalise drinks via a small CO2 capsule. Like a mini screw on soda stream..... Then it occured to me that a) it would explode the bottle if it wasn't full, and b) it would only be sold in those crappy little pamphlets you get in the Sunday People

Fat Boy

Not at all, but a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush - let someone else invest shedloads of precious capital in building a factory that will go out of date, taking on staff, pension obligations,etc,etc, - just collect the royalties with no hassles while coming up with your next invention...

Of course, it's probably a crap invention anyway...

John Catlin

Patent it first before any thing else.

Then ask for advise

R19KET

World wide patents cost £1000's, and it's not something you just go and do without taking professional advice.

I would suggest you speak to Adam M, on 22b.com. It's what he does, and he will give you honest advice about your idea, and tell you what it will cost to patent.


Mark.

R 14NS R

speak to adam m, thats what he does for a living.

TopBanana

I recommend speaking to Adam M. He does it for a living.

PG