Kickstarter & Patents

by 6 replies
7
Hi guys,

I have some ideas I'd love to kickstart. I'm just wondering, do popular kickstaters protect themselves with patents?

I'm just asking, as lawyer fees to create a patent can be quite high.

Raising capital of course online is a solution, but your product of course is vulnerable before you get the patent.

Bit of a catch 22.
#main internet marketing discussion forum #kickstarter #patents
  • Hey,

    Patents are not as costly as you think. They can be super cheap and protect your idea at same time. All you need is some efforts on your own to write claims in patent. There is plenty of resources on this.

    Don't worry about your idea. They won't be copied. As i hear often, its not idea, its execution that matters.
    • [1] reply
    • If you write them yourself then you will be at risk of being denied by the USPTO.

      Timo
      • [1] reply
  • You need to pay $10 K for filling alone ( not a lawyer fee ), it is not that cheap.

    As of Kick Starter, I guess ideas owner taking some risk, you simply can't get it all. If the idea is good and funded through the camping , filling for a patent shall be step # 1
    • [1] reply
    • Hmmm, I'm wondering if you could include "filing for a patent" as part of your kickstarter funding proposal? Never seen that before, but then I haven't looked at examples recently.

      Most projects ask for less than it would cost to file a patent... But you never know...
  • Include the phrase "Patent pending." This could mean that you are close to finalizing the patent or it could mean that you just started the process. No one needs to know where you are in the process and if they do a public search, many know that it takes time for records to be updated, so there is no guarantee that someone trying to move in on your idea won't have wasted their time.
    Also, take a copy of your patent idea paperwork and any sketches, and mail a copy of it by certified letter to yourself and don't open it. It will have a date stamped on it from the post office. This is proof that you had the idea at a specific date in time if there is ever any battle with someone who may have tried to get to market before you did.
    This is not the best way to go about things, but it is an economical way to put yourself one up on most lurkers.
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