[Pro] What to do if... (non FW question, but interesting)

Freeway
1

Hi all,

I cannot think of a better bunch of people to ask this of…

What would you suggest one do if they have a revolutionary techological idea (not a product per say), that they know will exist in the future, currently does not exist right now, and is very needed by students/teachers/tutors/public schools/universities around the world?

How does one begin? talk to developer, tech company??

no idea how to start.

Thanks!

Barry

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2

First, start by talking to an Intellectual Property Attorney. Run, do not walk, to her office.

Walter

On Feb 11, 2014, at 9:32 AM, Hoffkids wrote:

Hi all,

I cannot think of a better bunch of people to ask this of…

What would you suggest one do if they have a revolutionary techological idea (not a product per say), that they know will exist in the future, currently does not exist right now, and is very needed by students/teachers/tutors/public schools/universities around the world?

How does one begin? talk to developer, tech company??

no idea how to start.

Thanks!

Barry

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3

not sure it can be patented, I guess that is why I should see the attorney.

Let’s say it was similar to video conferencing… Let’s say someone thought of that long before it was developed… that is not exactly something someone could own or patent -right?

I could technically work with a talented developer like, say Walt, we could get it going… but then what?

what is the ultimate situation?.. i cannot imagine i retain ownership of an idea…

by the way it has to do with students interacting with webpages in a way that is not really done right now. It is a little, but not the way i envision it or the way I see it happening in 3-5 years.

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If you have been following the incredible brouhaha of the “Patent Trolls” who have been preying on the iOS development community, you will know that yes, you can patent an idea, even if you never build it. Amazon owns the idea of a one-click purchase. Not “a particular implementation of that idea, with technical details to differentiate it from other implementations”, but the idea itself. Intellectual Ventures owns a patent on the idea of a shopping cart, and they have been getting licenses from companies large and small, to the tune of hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars. They have also been racking up some serious legal fees as many of their intended victims have decided to counter-sue and challenge the validity of their patent. To clarify, I believe that Amazon is not a patent troll, but IV is. The former makes things, uses them to do their business, and protects their intellectual property as a normal course of business. IV bought each of its patents from the original developers, makes nothing at all, does nothing at all, it just sues people. They are the Mafia of today. “Nice Web site you got there. Be a real shame if it were to burn down…”

Walter

On Feb 11, 2014, at 9:42 AM, Hoffkids wrote:

not sure it can be patented, I guess that is why I should see the attorney.

Let’s say it was similar to video conferencing… Let’s say someone thought of that long before it was developed… that is not exactly something someone could own or patent -right?

I could technically work with a talented developer like, say Walt, we could get it going… but then what?

what is the ultimate situation?.. i cannot imagine i retain ownership of an idea…

by the way it has to do with students interacting with webpages in a way that is not really done right now. It is a little, but not the way i envision it or the way I see it happening in 3-5 years.

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5

Thanks Walt,

So interesting.

I better free up my schedule for court dates…

:slight_smile:

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6

I looked into the Intellectual Property/ Patent stuff several years ago for a non-tech idea I had and, perhaps my memory fails me but, I seem to recall there being some sort of implied “intent to bring to market” timeframe whereby you had to actively work towards turning your idea into something more. I don’t know, maybe I’m misremembering.

In any case the first thing I did was seek an attorney and I sure didn’t tell anyone else.

Todd

If you have been following the incredible brouhaha of the “Patent Trolls” who have been preying on the iOS development community, you will know that yes, you can patent an idea, even if you never build it.

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Thanks Todd,

Did the attorney charge… did you waste your time with the whole thing?

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I was not charged, he spoke to me off-the-clock because I was referred to him by our mutual friend.

Did I waste my time? No. I learned a lot, the most important being that ultimately I wasn’t convinced my idea was worth pursuing nor did I have the resources to act upon it anytime in the (then) near future. I saw the attorney thinking - hoping really - I could legally protect my idea even if I never moved on it.

I still haven’t shared my idea and I could still pursue it, but regardless of my foggy memory you should speak to an attorney, at least that way you’ll know what your options are and you won’t play the “what if” game with yourself.

Todd

Thanks Todd,

Did the attorney charge… did you waste your time with the whole thing?

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9

THanks again

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