How do I find out if an idea I have for a product  hasn't already been patented?
479389
Tell me what the product is. No I am just kidding. First write down the complete details of your idea, seal it in an envelope, go to your local post office and send the package back to yourself as a certified letter, and most importantly don't open this envelope ever. store it someplace safe. This establishes a timeline for your idea. Then begin your search at www.uspto.gov. there are a lot of website that offer complete patent search capabilities but you want to go directly to the source. Further this site will direct you to other resources that will help you secure your patent quickly and easily.
1165889
As the inventor, you have the burden of proof.\nYou need to prove that what you have created actually works.  You'd probably need to contact people who work in the field or fields that relate to your inventions.\n\nAlso, "new" doesn't always mean "good" or "better".
35608
I have not personally; however, if these are products that are sold in the US, try checking the USPTO to see if they have valid Federal trademarks. See source box.
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...
246891
patent it. go to the government service. if you go to the attorneys they will charge you around 2000-5000. you can also document and date the design, then show it to the manufacturer. they can tell you if it is marketable; but be careful. they can steal you idea/design. so document and date it well. go see an attorney that doesn't try to sell you patent service.
957466
I'm a patent attorney.  The following answer pertains to United States patents, but the situation regarding patents is similar in other countries.  This is a very general answer, and doesn't go into specifics or exceptional situations.  You should NOT take this as legal advice.  In fact, you should never try to obtain a patent without retaining the services of a qualified patent practitioner.\n\nThe patent office doesn't contact people to find out if they know about your invention.  They do a search of published documents of all sorts to see if anyone has already taught your claimed invention, or whether there is enough information already known to make your invention obvious.  If they can't find evidence that your claimed invention is anticipated or obvious, you'll probably be able to patent your invention.\n\nHowever, if someone knows or finds out that you weren't the real inventor, or that people knew about your invention before you applied for a patent, they could go to court and try to invalidate one or more claims of your patent.  (There are a great many other grounds on which a patent can be attacked, but I think you're just interested in these issues.) A U.S. patent (but not patents issued by most other countries) could still be valid even if you revealed your invention to other people before you applied for the patent, as long as your invention wasn't known to the public more than a year before you filed your application.\n\nTo answer your second question, if your claimed invention includes a feature that is significantly different or an improvement over an old invention (or a previously known invention), then yes, you can get a patent on the new or improved invention.  However, your patent would only cover products that included that improvement or novel feature.
26840
Hi Varun, to make money out of your ideas, visit http://www.inventhelp.com/ This site help inventors with a product, or even an idea to reach the potential market. An idea dosen't always need to be a product. There are product designers, who design a product based on the submitted idea. Here's a sequence\n\nIdea Originator -> Product Designer -> Producer/Financer -> Market\n\nAlso, if your idea is Innovative, you can contact a company to sell them the idea. But before showing them the details, you can get them signed a non disclosure contract, so that even in case they reject it, they don't use it. Patents also come for rescue in such situations.
407469
You really need to consult a patent lawyer about this. The amount of time is dependent on a number of factors. For example, is this product a spin-off of something already patented? If, so the patent office will have to determine if there is any infringement involved. Are all your drawings and technical papers complete and in order? If not, there could be a delay here.
616385
First, file a complaint against the company with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. see http://www.uspto.gov/web/forms/2048.pdf\n\nNext, collect all of your materials, including copies of the materials you sent to/received from the invention company, and find a registered patent attorney to advise you.\n\nI wouldn't worry much about the company stealing your idea. They make their money by extracting $700 - $21,000 from solo inventors and aren't geared up to do more than push paper. However, they can compromise your ability to obtain patent protection in other ways, so do consult with a registered patent attorney. You can find one near you with this link: http://des.uspto.gov/OEDCI/GeoRegion.jsp\n\nGood luck.
468284
From 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 \n Patents and How to Get One : A Practical Handbook \n How to Register Your Own Trademark : With Forms \n Patent It Yourself \n Protecting Your Ideas : The Inventor's Guide to Patents
1110681
I'd check to see if you're infringing someone else's patent first. If you're not, and you don't want to see an attorney, I'd find a patent agent. Agents can prosecute patents before the USPTO and are usually cheaper than attorneys. Agents and attorneys are similar, but attorneys can litigate. Anyway, you have a year from the time you first published your idea to file a patent. From the initial patent you can get other patents on different aspects of your invention and file foreign patents. But you should really check to see if you're infringing first.
1029455
A company called Davison Inventegration at davison@mail.davisongetsresults.com can help you with the promotion of your product. They will send you an inventors package in the mail. everything is confidential and your rights protected. Good Luck!
169787
You should first do a free search at the US Patent and Trademark office website.\n\nSearch for keywords and find it.\nhttp://patft.uspto.gov/netahtml/search-adv.htm\n\nThe European Patent Office covers many countries. It is at\nhttp://www.european-patent-office.org\nand also has free search capabilities.\n\nHowever! Thorough patent searches are often done by specialized Patent Searchers.  They are most always highly credentialed in specific areas of technology.  If you just file at the USPTO they'll charge you around $500 for the patent search.  But, history proves that if your idea is good, somebody will take an interest during the period your invention is open to public inspection. Many patents have been quashed during this period cuz someone does a more thorough search than the USPTO patent examiners.  Worse yet, they let your patent get approved, then they watch how your product faires in the marketplace.  If it does well then they conduct a thorough search and kill your patent, costing you plenty.  Why?  Cuz they can rewrite the patent and file their own, taking your idea. Even if they cant file their own patent, at least they can kill yours and sell your idea unhindered by patents. Do a 'patent search' on google or yahoo.  You might want to get a thorough search up front.
193375
Most large companies will not accept unsolicited ideas for the simple reason that they could later get sued if they came up with the same idea independently.  \n\nIf the idea is so good, either do it yourself or, at least, get a patent on it. Then you'll be in a better position to sell the idea to someone else.
1053239
Do you have the patent already? Otherwise don't proceed any further til you've done that.
249662
Questions like that require the expertise of a patent lawyer examining the specific elements of your invention, the pending patent applications, and the international implications.  It's an extremely difficult to determine with all the details, much less with the quick facts posted on Yahoo!  Consult an attorney as soon as possible.
475719
Do a computer search to see if the product already exists first. You could save a lot of time effort and money. Otherwise go to a LEGITIMATE invention company. Do a search to find one and always check their record with the BBB.