Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Patents for the Little People?

Posted by Cliff on from the empowering-the-underdog dept.

_ph1ux_ asks: "I have an idea that i would like to patent. I have called several patent attorney's in the San Francisco Bay Area and inquired about the costs associated with doing a patent search and filing. I was quoted a flat fee for the search by some, ranges by others - and some more sound sounding advice from others. Some attorney's want $450 for the search and a range of $3-6,000 for the filing - with up to six months before they are ready to just file the application for you. I have been researching on USPTO website to see if there are any pre-existing patents that cover my idea now for several days, and so far have found none. In the past I was able to quickly locate existing patents that thwarted my previous patent attempts - so this time it looks promising. My personal feelings for attorneys and lawyers aside - I want to know what have other slashdotters done with regards to pursuing patents, specifically if it is at all possible for an IANAL to successfully apply for a patent (cheaply)? Can you tell me what other avenues there are for me online or otherwise, while not giving away a large stake in my invention?"

14 of 466 comments (clear)

  1. Hmmm.. by unicron · · Score: 5, Funny

    *Whips out paper and pen*

    So what exactly does this product do? Please be as specific as possible, and email me any drawings you have of said product, including highly detailed autocad drawings.

    --
    Finally, math books without any of that base 6 crap in them.
  2. IANAL by Breakfast+Pants · · Score: 2, Funny

    IANAL but I would suggest you consult one. Don't hold that against me, IANAL!! Anyway if you can't consult one you could just simply file your patent and see if it gets rejected (IANAL Don't quote me on that!!!). Anyway, IANAL, good luck.

    --

    --

    WHO ATE MY BREAKFAST PANTS?
    1. Re:IANAL by RealAlaskan · · Score: 3, Funny
      btw, what does IANAL mean?

      It means that you are obnoxiously obsessed with trivial details. Or that you are the goatse.cx guy.

      --
      See what I've been reading.
  3. Traditionally... by Amazing+Quantum+Man · · Score: 5, Funny

    I have an idea that i would like to patent.

    Traditionally, you couldn't patent ideas, only implementations...

    Of course, the USPTO has ignored that for at least a decade...

    --
    Fascism starts when the efficiency of the government becomes more important than the rights of the people.
  4. IANAL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    Yes IANAL

  5. Sorry. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I believe that the Tolkien Estate currently holds the patents on 'Little People', also known as 'Hobbits' or 'Halflings'.

  6. IANAL by NanoGator · · Score: 4, Funny

    IANAL, but I predict that the comments in this article will lure lots of porn lurkers from Google.

    --
    "Derp de derp."
  7. Re:Don't patent it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    And sleep with beautiful women. Don't forget that.

  8. For little people? by wytcld · · Score: 2, Funny
    There's quite a bit of prior art in producing little people. Or do your little people never grow big?

    Do you expect a real pot of gold at the end of this rainbow?

    --
    "with their freedom lost all virtue lose" - Milton
  9. Re:Before you disclose your invention, DO THIS by unicron · · Score: 5, Funny

    There goes your cut.

    --
    Finally, math books without any of that base 6 crap in them.
  10. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 2, Funny

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  11. Just do it by ocbwilg · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just file your patent. Worry about prior art and all that other stuff later. That's what everybody else does...

  12. But he already disclosed it! by unsinged+int · · Score: 5, Funny

    Can't you people read? He's patenting little people. Then he's gonna sue the crap out of that guy on the Lucky Charms box and get his pot of gold.

    1. Re:But he already disclosed it! by Swaffs · · Score: 3, Funny

      No dude, he's patenting the ability to patent something cheaply... That is, as soon as /.ers tell him how to do it.

      --

      --
      "Karma can only be portioned out by the cosmos." - Homer Simpson [1F10]