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fifasy
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29 Oct 2017, 2:58 am

My issue is I have no experience with computer programming or designing or building products. It is just a good idea.

Can I patent it?

My idea involves taking a popular product people often use in outdoor activity and modifying it by putting a computer in so that it will make the activity a lot more fun and useful.

It would be easy to make for people who can program and manufacture.



Dear_one
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29 Oct 2017, 9:40 am

The computer would have to work with the other device. You can't patent simple combinations, such as a pen with a bottle opener. If you pass that test, you may be tempted to apply for a patent. You can do it yourself, but, like the other items on your list, it takes a long time to learn. Patent lawyers will be happy to take your money, but you will never find one willing to work on contingency. They know that they go years without seeing a client make money. One that I knew forgot that, and patented his own idea. Then he lost $4mil. trying to make and sell the thing.
It takes, on average, $14mil. pa in gross sales to break even on the legal work to maintain one patent.
Corporations, normally quite rational beasts, go berserk around patents. They will budget ten times more to break yours than the royalties you ask for. If there are large companies involved in your product line, your best options are to either take a job there, or publish everything until they hire you to shut up.
If your product is a small niche item, or lends itself to personalization, one trick is to just file one cheap paper so you can say "Patent Pending." This will scare off most of the little pirates. Then you focus on development and sales. When the copycats come out, you are ready with a better version, and you are known as the best.
If you are an aspie, you probably need to find a business partner to deal with most of these issues. Every successful business needs a team anyway.



fifasy
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29 Oct 2017, 11:42 am

Thanks for the advice. I am not going to be able to produce my idea so a patent would be an expensive and worthless piece of paper. I will have to just wait and see if anyone else comes out with it.



Dear_one
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29 Oct 2017, 12:35 pm

fifasy wrote:
Thanks for the advice. I am not going to be able to produce my idea so a patent would be an expensive and worthless piece of paper. I will have to just wait and see if anyone else comes out with it.


Theoretically, with a patent you can sell rights to manufacturers if you can persuade them to produce your product, but a lottery ticket is often a better investment. I would suggest that you publish your idea as widely as possible. This won't stop a patent any longer like it used to, but it will pop up your name on the research, which increases your odds of selling the next idea. If it is something you really want yourself, learning to build it can be a fun project that builds valuable skills.