Re: patent & Idea Question

Folks,

I guess it is patent week here. Let me begin that on top of all I said about
patents, after selling their PC Manufacturing business to the Chinese, IBM
has decided to make free many of their important patents. The #1 patent holder
in USA, IBM, is losing interest in patents!

I have in essence the same answer to both of these questions. We wish to
sell items that please customers. Customers are the most important, but product
or service is the hardest part.

We will be constantly changing whatever we develop to meet customers changing
demands... to patent something you will necessarily change is rather a waste
of time and money.

Thus, first and foremost, we want to find out what customers think of our
product idea. You know the drill...either go in and try to "buy it" or take a
sample in for instant feedback. Get your customers lined up first. This
rather precludes keeping anything "secret."

So no matter how complex or simply your item, get a designer involved. if
the thing needs FCC licensing, or FDA permits or whatever else, the designer
worries about compliance issues. If further, the designer deems a patent,
trademark or copyright worthwhile, let the designer have that. You get the
customers and the income and the product to sell. (A sample royalty contract is
up on
this listserv website).

This is exciting stuff, don't get bogged down by details... customer product
supplier...you manage that, and leave the details to the experts.

John

In a message dated 7/18/05 11:27:59 AM, roslyn_robinson@hotmail.com writes:

<< Hi John.
I have a question regarding an idea that I have regarding cable TV. How
would I go about finding out if my idea has been patent. Also, I'm pretty sure
that my idea would need to go through IEEE, FCC and other Engineering
regulations. Where should I begin as far as researching this?
Thanks.
Roslyn Robinson >>

I have a product that I would like to have manufactured. I've identified
China as the best place to have it made and have a list of potential
manufacturers. I know what I want the product to look like, but I would
like to have some input from the manufacturer. I don't have a patent for
the product or the idea. How much should I share with the potential
manufacturers? Do I need a patent? I know you don't recommend wasting time
on a patent, John, but I'm still a little bit nervous about sharing my idea.
Would appreciate any input from anyone. Thanks, Kim

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