If you have a brilliant idea for a product or an invention, you can protect it with a patent. Patents protect the way that inventions work, and they also cover any improvements that are made to an original invention. You can get a patent for an idea that has not yet been developed into a product, but you cannot patent an idea that is already public knowledge (for example, if you invent something then tell everyone about it). For more information on how to patent an idea, see this article.
1. How to patent an idea
There are basically two ways to patent an idea: 1) It can be patented as a product or 2) it can be patented as a process. The two different types of patents are very different and it is important to understand the difference between them before making your decision.
A product patent is a patent granted to a specific person, company, or organization that can be used to protect a particular new and improved invention. In the United Kingdom, we have 10 types of patents that cover ideas like inventions, processes, combinations, compositions, plants, and other biological organisms. These patents are non-exclusive, so other companies can use them to help fight their battles as well.
Patents can be valuable because they can be worth millions of dollars at first application. Patent applications average around 1–3 pages and are often filled out by someone sitting in a office somewhere in the United Kingdom. This formal filing process can take anywhere from 20 to 300 days, depending on the complexity of the invention. The time you get it before a patent deadline is crucial to ensure your invention is not stolen before it gets to the market.
Patents don’t totally protect the idea. Trademarks and trade dress actually protect your brand as well as the idea behind it from being imitated. Trademarks are the blue print you put everything you have into your marketing to create a unique identity. You can have several different trademarks protecting the same physical entity. Common ways to register a trademark are to quote the entity’s name, want to make use of it in the name of your product or service, or to make reference to it so others know it is related to you.
With a patent, other companies can not copy an idea and use it to create something else. It is important to understand that different domains of inventions can have different protections and that ideas can be patented in more than one domain.
2. What is the process of getting a patent?
It depends on what kind of patent you are looking to get. If you are looking for a utility patent, then you need to have a working prototype of your invention. If you are looking for a design patent, then you need to have the appearance of your invention. Once you have your patent, you have 20 years of exclusive rights to your invention.
Some people think they need a lot of money to obtain a design patent when in reality, it doesn't even take that much. You simply want to be well known and respected. The more important thing is to remain anonymous. Design patents are granted on an annual basis. They have set fees and can be in the range of $1,000 - $5,000. These can be paid in a lump sum when you apply if or when you are accepted. There is a 2 week government assessment period during which you can get a design patent and not pay any fees. You then have another 2 week government assessment period to pay the fees. You do not need to give any evidence or justify your invention. After you have paid these fees for two years the UK Patent Office will conduct a thorough examination and give you "Exemption Note" which design patents are public domain.
SOCIAL MEDIA is REGISTERED. REPROGRAMMED.
What is a SOCIAL MEDIA Patent?
Generally, a social media patent will be granted if the topic is something that is commonly shared socially. As a social media patent, you can't be limited to online content. You can apply it to things such as TV, radio, and print. You can apply social media to any form of communication.
For example, a social media application could be music. A social media composition could be a song that is on YouTube. The only limit here is the application of the social media.
This Is Not Just for FB.
There is also a REQUIREMENT for social media applications. It is not open source so if someone steals it, you cannot use it. You also have to register it with the UK Patent and Trademark Office.
3. What is the difference between copyright and trademark?
In the simplest terms, a copyright is a form of intellectual property that protects the expression of an idea while a trademark is a form of intellectual property that protects a brand’s image and name.Patents are granted for inventions and are generally confidential. A patent may beonics or critical comparisons, but it can be practically anything. Various industries, from cosmetics and pharmaceuticals to software and automobiles, have built large corporations upon their discoveries. These businesses develop products and services thoughtfully and create branding and marks that protect those products and services. Other industries, such as online marketing and online education, develop content with the intent that it could find commercial uses in other media. A common form of intellectual property is copyright.
Copyright is one of the number of "subject-matter" within U.K. law. As such, subject-matter jurisdiction (U.K.), the Rule 34(a) inquiry, and the uniform system of copyright examination and registration are federally mandated. Subject-matter jurisdiction may also be necessary for agents representing foreign copyright holders. International copyright treaties also assist in minimizing copyright holder dominance issues. U.K. copyright law generally recognizes foreign copyright holders so long as the foreign country complies with U.K. copyright law. Due to the ever-expanding global marketplace, international copyright treaties (which exist primarily in Europe) may provide a helpful and practical method for European attorneys and copyright owners to find and seize current and pending U.K. copyright infringements. The Uniform System of Copyright Procedure (UK copristory litigations) was enacted in 1982 to provide more uniform procedures for handling copyright claims. The aim of the statute is to improve quality of justice and streamline the administration of copyright litigation in the court system.
4. How do I apply for a patent?
The first thing you need to do is conduct a patent search. You can do this yourself or use a service like Google Patents or the U.K. Patent and Trademark Office's (UKIPO) own patent search tool. Once you've conducted your search, you'll know what you can patent and what you can't.See below for definitions of common U.K. Patent and Trademark Office terms.
Some basic educational resources for what is a "patent" include:
A Patent Attorney’s Guide to Legal Information for the Information Technology Professionals by Ross Lien and Susan E. Litwin, Jr. (non-profit organization) at University of Houston School of Law
Overview of Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights by Charles D. Fischer (PDF)
Patent and Trademark Office Web Resources
NOTE: Patent numbers often begin with 030, such as 031, 033, 034, and so on, which refer to different categories of patent. Thus, a patent may have numbers ranging from 030 to 039.
2. How to do a patent search? For a basic search, you’ll want to use one of the services mentioned above to complete the search, or perform similar searches of your own. Once you’ve obtained the list of contents, you can copy and paste each line into Google’s Patent Search Tool.
NOTE: If a patent relates to a service, such as a website, you can search for a particular website rather than a particular patent.
This will return patent documents on your search. You can click on any of the results or study the patent. Or you can just...
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