It has a lot to do with how litigious our society has become;
Most patents are a waste of time and money unless the inventor is willing to defend the patent...and that takes lawyers and $money$.
On the other hand, you can invent a nice new system for solving some sticky problem and not even care about patenting/defending. As a possible scenario, maybe all you want to do is use your invention to feed yourself and your family. Then someone comes along, swipes your idea, patents your invention and sends you a cease and desist letter. Now you've got to get a lawyer or back off.
Welcome to the 21st century!
If you'd paid the $500 filing fee, you'd have gotten off more cheaply.
So, the patent can just be good, basic, defense in a ripoff bizniz world (pardon my cynicism but nobuddy know de trubble ah seen...).
Good Suggestion...ask the advisor, then probably do the opposite. My experience was that the advisor was only there to sandbag the unwary.
The *only* person who really knows anything about this and has no agenda is a person called the Graduation Advisor and he or she is in the Records Dept. That's the person who tallies up the classes and hours and decides if you actually get out or not.
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It has a lot to do with how litigious our society has become;
Most patents are a waste of time and money unless the inventor is willing to defend the patent...and that takes lawyers and $money$.
On the other hand, you can invent a nice new system for solving some sticky problem and not even care about patenting/defending. As a possible scenario, maybe all you want to do is use your invention to feed yourself and your family. Then someone comes along, swipes your idea, patents your invention and sends you a cease and desist letter. Now you've got to get a lawyer or back off.
Welcome to the 21st century!
If you'd paid the $500 filing fee, you'd have gotten off more cheaply.
So, the patent can just be good, basic, defense in a ripoff bizniz world (pardon my cynicism but nobuddy know de trubble ah seen...).
I believe it's already that way:
Individual inventors claim 'small entity status' and get a reduction in filing fees.
Good Suggestion...ask the advisor, then probably do the opposite. My experience was that the advisor was only there to sandbag the unwary. The *only* person who really knows anything about this and has no agenda is a person called the Graduation Advisor and he or she is in the Records Dept. That's the person who tallies up the classes and hours and decides if you actually get out or not.
I've got.NetBurgers...it's terrible!