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Nobody is going to steal your unproven hardware idea at the TechShop. Don't worry.
by errantspark 12y ago
Nobody is going to steal your unproven hardware idea at the TechShop. Don't worry.
- pitt1980 12y agoat what point in the processes of proving a concept does it make sense to get IP protection?
- HeyLaughingBoy 12y agoWhen you realize that you will make more than the patent costs, plus the legal fees to sue an infringer. Before then, I'd say you have better uses for the money.
- spiritplumber 12y agoA provisional patent is around $400 and lets you slap Patent Pending on the manual, which makes you look more serious, at least.
- HeyLaughingBoy 12y ago[shrug] So you just paid $400 for the right to sue someone. Still gotta pay the lawyers.
- spiritplumber 12y agoIt also makes you look a bit better to the sort of people who care about patents (The problem with lawyers is that they quickly get more expensive than siege engines, so their usefulness is limited).
- ridgeguy 12y agoA provisional patent is $65 if you are a micro entity, $130 if you're a small entity. You have one year after filing your provisional patent to file a "regular" (utility) patent based on the provisional, and your utility filing gets the benefit of the provisional filing date. See fee schedule, refs of micro & small entities, etc: http://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/fees-and-payment/uspto-fee-schedule http://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/fees-and-payment...