Invention, it’s coming together

[RidgeRunner76]

That does nothing. The US patent system is “first to file.”

Yep.

International gets a bit murkier but can be advantageous in application.

 

[Treeshark]

IMO explain the design and put pictures, print and put in an envelope and mail to yourself via certified mail and DO NOT open it. Then if a major company tries to copy the idea exactly and sends legal team after you to cease/decist you can provide that as evidence you had the idea prior to them filing for a patent, thus making their patent null. Better than spending the cash on an attorney.

That’s not how this works. First one with the patent wins, generally speaking.

 

[RidgeRunner76]

That’s not how this works. First one with the patent wins, generally speaking.

Yep. Plus its finite. Unless, you can significantly change the design and refile.

 

[jpc01101]

That’s not how this works. First one with the patent wins, generally speaking.

If you can prove you had the idea prior their patent is not valid. I was told this by a patent attorney.

 

[Treeshark]

If you can prove you had the idea prior their patent is not valid. I was told this by a patent attorney.

Do you remember when this conversation was? Things changed fairly significantly in 2013.

 

[jpc01101]

Do you remember when this conversation was? Things changed fairly significantly in 2013.

Hmm…might have been around that time. Maybe this impacts it?

If you disclosed publicly: If your record includes a public disclosure (e.g., you published a paper or sold a product embodying the idea more than one year before their filing), that could qualify as prior art and potentially invalidate their patent for lack of novelty.