Product Design
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- OSFA
Let's say I come up with this good concept (at least to me and a few peeps I've checked with) and design it, spend days and nights wotking around it to the point that I can present it to people in order to receive feedback.
What should I do to protect my idea/concept? Register it? Copyright it? Trademark it? I have not gone into the deep research to make sure there is nothing like it out there or patented yet, but wanted to get some advice.
Thanks.
- MrD0
patent your design before showing it
if its more just how it looks than you cant do it really.
if it has some functions in a unique way than yes
- thenuge0
you won't be able to get a patent right away, but you can apply for one. As long as you file before you show it to anyone, you can't (technically) be ripped off.
- joyride0
I've seen it on TV... it has to be legit...
I hear they steal you're shit, and give you peanuts in return... so be careful, get proof that you came up with it first somehow someway
- MrD0
patent law suit = who ever has most money to hire a lawyer
- Mimio0
Talk to a patent expert. If it's a simple design you'll have to rely more on specific claims about the product to incorporate into the patent application. They'll help you structure the claims of your design so it's fully protected.
- OSFA0
how much money would it cost and how do I patent?
What is the difference in pateting, copyrighting and trademarking it when it comes to real life products like this?
I believe is a very strong concept and has lots of potential. I didn't think of it before but now that I see it coming to life and the possible uses for it, I am getting excited. I might have somethin here people!
- version30
google has a patent search now too
- MrD0
applying for patent doesnt cost that much
its the paper work. one thing is that you need to outline exactly what your thing does.
search for difference on the three on Wiki
one more thing, as your design develops, and changes in to something else, your patent is no longer valid to that particular product. you can add amendments to it but it also takes a long time.
best thing to do..
design it, make a prototype, file a patent (nail down the function) than add amendments.
- OSFA0
Thanks for the helpful advice guys, I'm taking notes. Keep 'em coming!
- v-gates0
You can spend a lot of money "protecting" something. At this point you are dealing with projections. Shame to give all your money to lawyers because you fear success. The trick is to be successful but not so much that the idea will be cheaper to make and sell by someone you will never be able to sue. Do yr marketing well and you will always keep market share then Benderize- ie sell out.
- ribit0
this is a physical product?
if so you arent talking about trademark protection (unless there is a trademark in there too), and you arent necessarily talking about patent protection (there may be nothing patentable in it at all, as patent law only applies to certain types of innovation/function), but you may still have design aspects that you could protect under 'design registration' or similar IPR protection (varies by country)... and finally copyright protection (which you get automatically) only applies to the expression of the ideas (drawings, photos etc) not to the physical products that they represent.
- superbaka0
i used to be a product designer. we would laugh at individuals getting patents on their products. the reason is large corporations have no problem stealing your idea and waiting until you sue, at which point you face their multi-million dollar lawyers. IMHO, its hopeless but it does appear somewhat professional. I recommend simply using NDAs, forget the patents..you don't stand a chance if someone wants to steal your idea. and for example, a single ink jet printer has upwards of 200-300 patents on it.
just lie that you have one when you talk casually about it, nobody will know. my $.02.
- moural0
Patents are for wimps... now tell us what your design is.
No, seriously. Tell us.
- OSFA0
haha, I'll let you guys know later... So, patenting it would be more of a waste of money huh? I was fearing that. I think it could be patented tho because it is a physical product but involves mechanics and electronics to make it work.
Superbaka, as a former product designer, u mind if I email you a few questions later?