how do i get something patent?
145517
If you're trying to get a U.S. Patent...start by going to this web site -\nhttp://www.uspto.gov/\n\nIt's the United States Patent and Trademark Office.  They have all the info and forms you'll need.\n\nAlso, there are Patent Lawyers who will help you file your patent as well, but you will have to cough up some $$$ for that.
1020095
When you say "office product," do you mean something you've invented OR something that exists already that you've made significant alterations to? If yes, that's something you would seek a patent for & that is done through the US Patent & Trademark Office.\n\nNOLO is a great, free informational site. Also, be sure to read what the USPTO (United States Patent & Trademark Office) has to say about patents.\n\nResearch, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can. Here are some book titles that are relevant:\n\n* Patent It Yourself (11th Edition) by David Pressman\n* Patents and How to Get One : A Practical Handbook by U.S. Department of Commerce\n* How To Make Patent Drawings Yourself: A Patent It Yourself Companion by Jack Lo\n* The Inventor's Notebook: A Patent It Yourself Companion by Fred E. Grissom\n\nThere are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.\n\nHope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!
1170104
There's that obnoxious commercial on TV that says you can patent your ideas, but they want money for telling you how. I would just contact the US patent office directly. Google should be able to give you the address and phone number. Good luck.
340561
Call a patent attorney. Seriously.
589222
If your idea is truly unique you should look to get a patent before showing to anyone.  You should also make sure nobody else patented it.  Find a good patent lawyer.\n\nOnce you have this you can approach companies. There are many ways to profit on your idea and it may not be just one way and often depends on the needs of the specific company.
481548
from personal experience-DO NOT I repeat DO NOT send your idea to one of those "help you patent" outfits- I did, and didn't have the money to follow through with a patent on my own- now a major company is making a knock off of my invention! if your idea is something totally new, then you need to figure out how to develop it your own- learn how to build it so you can see if it's a really valid idea. if an improvement to something that already exists you may be able to patent "improvement to prior art"- either way a good place to start is:\n\nhttp://www.uspto.gov/patft/index.html\n\nlook to see if anything already exists like your idea, and if not then start development!
318856
Ideas can not be patented, only inventions of some sort.  Before you can patent an invention, you will need to "reduce it to practicability" -- which is basically legalese for build a prototype or develop extremely specific plans.  There is also a complicated process of patent searching to be performed, to ensure that your invention has not been previously patented and to check whether it depends on anyone else's patented inventions.  Your best bet is to find a reputable, licensed patent attorney; your local bar association may be able to recommend some for you.  You should talk to a patent attorney before you tell your idea to any manufacturers, though, because you could wind up ruining your ability to get a patent later.  Good luck with your idea.
588132
A patent is a federal office thing. You may want to look for a local patent repository to learn about other inventions and search the records. (a repository is a duplicate of the records in the patent office in Washington).\nOtherwise, go to http://www.uspto.gov\nor look in the yellow pages under "Attorneys" and look for one that knows patenting law.
373638
If you don't get a patent, copycats will be on your heels the moment you bring your product to market. You will have no legal leg to stand on even if you send cease and desist letters. And if they find that you have not patented the product, they may even beat you to it.\n\nFrom the article "How to Protect Your Idea or Intellectual Property" http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol81/protectidea.htm here are some steps you need to take:\n\n1. Consult a patent lawyer and check if your idea can be patented. \n2. Keep extensive records tracking the development of your idea.\n3. Conduct an extensive research to find out if there are similar patents. \n4. Document where, how and to whom you showed your idea.\n5. Do your own market research if your idea is marketable\n6. Explore the possibility of developing the product yourself, or licensing someone else to make the product for you. \n\nTo bring your idea to market, here are some tips from the article "How to Get Your Consumer Invention to Market" http://www.powerhomebiz.com/012006/invention.htm\n\nGetting Started: \n\n- The Ideabook = Keep a bound ideabook of your invention idea. Date your entries. \n- Get it Notarized = get it officially confirmed that you conceived your invention idea on a particular date, and have your notes notarized. \n- Seek and Search = Do your own patent search to ascertain if your invention is original and prospectively patentable.\n- Create the Initial Prototype = Use simple materials to rig it up, to see if it works. \n- Get Educated = Educate yourself on the inventing process. Go to a bookstore or inventorhelp.com and review the plethora of books written on the subject. \n- The Non-Disclosure Form = Agreement signed between you and anyone you reveal your invention to. \n\nMoving Ahead \n\n- Analyze Costs to Produce = Ascertain what the costs will be. \n- The Evaluation Process = Analyze the benefits and features, strengths and weaknesses of your invention. \n- Get a Professional Prototype = Have professional prototypes made, the quality of which can be shown to potential retail buyers. \n- Protect Your Idea = Apply for a provisional patent yourself. \n- The Non-Provisional Patent = Your patent attorney files your non-provisional patent application.\n\nOptions for Marketing\n\n- Licensing = The inventor has the choice to license the invention to a manufacturer in exchange for a royalty percentage in sales. \n- Manufacturing = Manufacturing and distributing your invention entails higher financial risk but can reap greater profits.\n\nHere are some books that can help you:\n\nFrom Patent to Profit by Bob De Matteis \nProtecting Your #1 Asset : Creating Fortunes from Your Ideas : An Intellectual Property Handbook \nPatents and How to Get One : A Practical Handbook \nHow to Register Your Own Trademark : With Forms \nPatent It Yourself \nProtecting Your Ideas : The Inventor's Guide to Patents
843093
If you are in the US, you go to the US Patent and Trademark Office to get a patent. http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/howtopat.htm UPTO has a page on the Basic Facts of Patents that you may want to read http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/doc/general/index.html\n\nNote though that getting a patent is a complicated and costly process. It is best to work with a patent lawyer to help you navigate the process. The cost of filing a patent can go anywhere from $10K to $35K depending on the cost of your lawyer and what it is you are trying to patent
950823
Go to www.inventconnect.com.au and join the website... Register or list your idea on there and ask them through their FAQ section... There is heaps of info regarding patents and other stuff in the inventors resources area...\n\nThere are lists and contact details for patent attorneys as well...
1017048
Research the idea on the US patent website.  If the idea has already been invented (but not marketed) you can not do anything more.  If it has not been invented, go find yourself a patent attorney!  Happy searching
53131
Your new product should fall into one of these categories...\n\nThere are three types of patents: \n\n1) Utility patents may be granted to anyone who invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof; \n\n2) Design patents may be granted to anyone who invents a new, original, and ornamental design for an article of manufacture; and \n\n3) Plant patents may be granted to anyone who invents or discovers and asexually reproduces any distinct and new variety of plant. \n\nDefinitely contact an intellectual property attorney, as the other poster said. Also, read more about patents at the USPTO site & at Nolo. I listed the links.\n\nHope that helps!
321867
3-steps:\n\n1) Patent you idea (after searching for other similar patents and making sure your idea is original).  This is not too expensive to do.\n\n2) Contact a major corporation who plays in the area of your idea/invention, to partner with them (they will typically (caveat) not steal your idea like some smaller companies may).\n\n3) Have the major corporation make the investment in product development by negotiating a contract for royalties on any sales of the final product, plus prohibition on selling the idea to any third party.\n\nYou're in business!!  Cheers!
781423
I would patent the idea first and then go to Microsoft so they can't steal it from you.  If they do try and steal it from you and you have a patent then you can sue them, but if they know you have a patent and they like it they can purchase it from you.
853991
You cannot patent and idea, but you can develop the idea into a product, record and research its worth and then if you have something unique or novel or even a new use for a similar design, you may get a patent on that... Check our www.inventconnect.com.au and list your idea for free on there...
266629
a lot of community college and local universities will offer patent law classes.  check them out on the web.