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Seeking Prior Art Before Filing Patent?
An anonymous reader asks: "I had a sort of out-there idea for computer hardware, and wanted to investigate design and manufacture. I figure the first step would be to patent the idea so that I am protected from it being stolen, while I confer with contractors about fabrication and circuit design. Does anyone know of ways to check for prior art, other than hitting up Google for something similar? I believe this idea is unique, but you never know what could have been out there, and I didn't know if there were any good resources on the web. Since the readership seems to be an inventive bunch, I think discussion on this topic may help more people than myself."
The truth is, even if your patent is approved, the teeth of patent is backed by your ability to take it into court.
While it is nice to hold it as a property with the possibility of transfering it in the future (to someone who CAN defend it in court), it is not a hands-down defense of your idea.
Your idea had better be able to make it to market with quality backing by you. If that isn't there, who cares about a patent?
For the price, if you're sold on the idea, skip the BS and just patent it already.
I scream. You scream. I assume that means we're both acquainted with the problem. We proceed.
You can search a list of all registered patent attorneys in the US here.
s ter/
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/dcom/olia/oed/ro
This is pretty much the only valid answer to this question, so we might as well shut the story down now.
I've had enough abrasive sigs. Kittens are cute and fuzzy.