Should I Publish Or Patent?

BorgeStrand writes 'Patenting is an expensive process, even coming up with some sort of proof that your idea is unique (and thereby try to attract financing) may be prohibitive for the lone inventor. So what do you folks out there do when you come up with a good idea but don't have the means to patent it or market it to someone who will pay for the patenting process? And how much sense does it really make for the lone inventor to patent something? Would it make more sense to publish the whole idea, and make it (and my inventive brainpower) up for grabs? If my ideas are indeed valuable, what is the best way to gain anything from them without investing too much financially? What is your experience?'

Comments

Re:The choice

[elnyka]

This bullshit opinion that all patents are evil needs to end. If somebody spends time and money develoing an idea and inventing something new they deserve some bloody reward for it

I don't know if as many people would have a problem with this sentiment per se. However, the patent system is regularly abused by people who haven't spent time and money inventing something and aren't actually going to spend any time and money producing the product either, but simply look to sit on the patent and make their money from suing anyone who does put the effort in and brings the product to market. The other problem is the granting of patents (especially software patents) for things that the patent office may think is novel and worthy of protection, but we all know is so obvious that it wouldn't occur to any of us to try to patent. However, once the patent is granted, again the patentee puts all their real effort into suing anyone who dares to come up with the same idea. It is this leeching and obstructive use of patents that I would imagine that most people have problems with.

Most people have a problem with patents because they are stupid and like the sound of their own ideological drivel.

Intelligent people have problems with the abuse and leeching of the patent system, and they clearly express that view whenever it is proper and applicable.

Stupid nerd people, and many of /. posters in particular (college kids or aging Hippies who still live in the 60's) have a problem with patents no matter what. If you want a patent, you are indecent. If you disagree, u r evil, luv M$, drop dead and die!!(10+1). There are clearly two positions here: one logical and moral, and one illogical and certainly immoral. Insinuating that the OP is indecent because he/she wants to patent something (without evidence that he/she is trying to leech the system), that is certain immoral and pretty f* stupid. Most of the most belligerent /. posters fall into the later category.