patent checking- where can i see if an idea is already patented in the us and worldwide?
609729
For patents in the US go to:\n\nhttp://www.uspto.gov/patft/index.html
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USPTO database shows the issued patents and published applications http://www.uspto.gov/patft/index.html
72133
Look up the US Patent Agency online, see if someone has thought of it first. Then go from there, they have a fairly good self help center.
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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 \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
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NOLO 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* From Patent To Profit: Secrets & Strategies For The Successful Inventor, Third Edition by Bob Dematteis\n* How to License Your Million Dollar Idea: Everything You Need To Know To Turn a Simple Idea into a Million Dollar Payday, 2nd Edition by Harvey Reese\n* The Inventor's Bible: How to Market and License Your Brilliant Ideas by Ronald Louis Docie \n* The Complete Idiot's Guide(R) to Cashing in On Your Inventions by Richard Levy\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!
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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
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I suggest that you contact an Intellectual Property law firm.  My wife is a Patent Agent, and has worked for a firm near Philadelphia, PA, and recently started with a firm in Washington D.C.  Prices for filing a patent through her current company range average about $7,000.  I'm not sure about the USPTO charges, but those should be online (http://www.uspto.gov/main/howtofees.htm).\n\nIf you have a lawyer that you trust, you might want to get a referral from them.  If you want to send me e-mail, I can get you in touch with a partner at my wife's firm.  They would probably be able to answer basic questions without a huge retainer.\n\nBest of Luck on your invention.
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You want to go here:\n\nhttp://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/howtopat.htm
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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, you may want to read "How to Get Your Consumer Invention to Market" http://www.powerhomebiz.com/012006/invention.htm \n\nGood luck
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go to the US Patent and trademark office website to find out more. html://www.USPTO.gov
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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.
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http://www.uspto.gov/main/trademarks.htm\n\n\nThe official us patent and trademark office.
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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.
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http://inventors.about.com/od/patentoffices/a/US_Patent_Offic.htm\n\nhttp://www.inventnet.com/page1.html\n\nhttp://books.google.com/books?q=every+invention+patented+in+the+US&oi=print&sa=X&oi=print&ct=title\n\nhttp://news.google.com/news?q=every+invention+in+the+US&hl=en&lr=&sa=X&oi=news&ct=title\n\nhttp://www.colitz.com/site/wacky.htm\n\nhttp://www.einsteinyear.org/facts/physicsFacts\n\nhttp://www.transfer.ethz.ch/patente/patente_/index_EN
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You want to check with the Division of Corporations within your state, however another big concern is to also check existing trademarks with the Unites States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).  Why you may ask?  Even though a company and its name, which are created by the laws of the respective state, may not be in direct conflict with any other company of that state, you may run into problems later with trademark issues of other companies from other states with similar names.  Trademarks are usually registered with the USPTO and they provide a search engine online at uspto.gov .  It is worth checking, to avert future lawsuits of trademark dilution or unsavory business practices with regard to trademark infringement of a company that you did not know had a similar name or logo, albeit you should have known in terms of the law when such trademarks are federally registered.  Remember, companies are created by each state, and your state will only check to see if that company name is registered in the state; so be prudent and check the trademarks of other companies!!!
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A patent in the US is good for the US only. This site may get you started if you want an international patent as well.\n\nhttp://www.patentlawlinks.com/patoff.htm
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Register it with the library of congress (goole that to find it).  This protects you to some degree.  If its a process it can be patented in most cases.  You'll find this useful:\nhttp://www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/patent/patentFULL.html\n\nOnce you control the rights, and its yours, send copies of your idea to publishers of journals in whatever field you are in.  If its social send it to blogs and magazings.\n\nHope that helps.