The patent tag has no wiki summary.
12
votes
1answer
335 views
There's a troll in my space - now what?
I've spent the last 3 months full-time building an alpha version of a web app, and developing a business plan for it. The alpha version is ready to launch. Recently I've stumbled upon the fact that ...
10
votes
3answers
285 views
How should a startup deal with existing, ambiguous patents?
I've been thinking about a new idea I want to work on. After searching the USPTO, I found that there are many (hundreds) of patents around what I am wanting to work on, with a slew being very similar ...
10
votes
2answers
1k views
What happens when a UK company infringes a US patent?
I'm a one man startup with a high price, low volume, niche software product that I'm considering selling in the US. However, I'm concerned that it may infringe a US patent without me knowing because ...
9
votes
8answers
552 views
Filing a Patent
I have a web based product which has some unique characteristics. The whole concept is not
100% unique but the way this idea has shaped up I think is unique. I want to apply for patent of this idea.
...
9
votes
3answers
156 views
UK Startup dealing with US Software Patents
As the owner of a UK software company, I'd like to finish a SaaS application I've had in development for a while and sell it as a monthly subscription service. The software could be sold worldwide.
I ...
8
votes
4answers
1k views
To what extent are algorithms patentable, especially in the US and Europe?
I'd like to use an algorithm that has been published. It's not a must have for me, but would be convenient. The creator might be difficult to contact, but that's obviously not a reason to do the ...
8
votes
2answers
404 views
How do I know if I am infringing on a technology patent?
I want to create an app for the Ipad which uses "videoconferencing" technology, very similar to what skype does.
How do I know if that is patented?
What happens if it IS patent protected and I use the ...
7
votes
10answers
3k views
How do you protect the key features of your product without a patent?
I'm working on improving an old web based product but afraid that my idea will be copied by the bigger players. For example, let's say I build an improved a web-based task management software but ...
7
votes
3answers
306 views
How can startup be ready to defend IP/Patents if/when a competitor does infringe?
My startup is working on a consumer product (manufacture, sell, ship), where we have developed a really great improvement over our competitors. We have patent pending status, and will be entering the ...
7
votes
2answers
449 views
Intellectual Property Suicide Pill
I'm planning a new software company that will license software to businesses. A lot of R&D will be needed to create the software and indeed, our codebase will be our biggest asset. Unfortunately ...
7
votes
2answers
287 views
Are patents worth investing in?
We have got patents for specific technologies in the past, they cost a lot and the value was not really visable.
We often develop specific algorithms for real-time systems and work with a range of ...
6
votes
6answers
505 views
what's the possibility I can patent a simple never-been done web app?
I'm looking to patent a method/core of my web app. It's actually pretty simple. What's the chance of me getting a patent for it?
6
votes
2answers
143 views
How do I know if I am infringing on a Copyright or Patent?
Im looking to create a small start up at home making bicycle accessories but I have no clue if I would be infringing on any copyright and or patents in doing so.
How Do I know if my Company name is ...
5
votes
4answers
609 views
How Do I Prevent Somone From Stealing My Idea On KickStart
I have a great idea for a new product and I am thinking about launching it on Kickstarter, but I have one major problem. I am afraid that someone will steal my product and/or accuse me of stealing ...
5
votes
5answers
672 views
How do these sites get away with infringing Elance's patent?
I know you all aren't patent lawyers but maybe I am missing something obvious?
How do these sites get away with breaking Elance's patent U.S. Patent 7,069,242 [guru, scriptlance, vworker, ...
5
votes
3answers
850 views
Does the eBay patent prohibit other websites from doing simple online auctions?
Patent 7,702,540 (2-19-1999) was finally awarded to eBay after 11 years. It reads:
Computer-implement method and system for conducting auctions on the internet
Abstract
Methods and ...
4
votes
9answers
9k views
Making money from Improving existing products
If I come up with an improvement to an existing product, how do I protect myself when sharing it, and get some of the revenues the idea generates?
There are many times when I look at an existing ...
4
votes
5answers
631 views
Should I Bypass a Patent Search at this Stage of Product Development?
I have a concept for a software product that I want to pursue. I've personally done an extensive Internet prior art search as well as searches for US and international patents searches and I found ...
4
votes
2answers
552 views
How to protect yourself against the unethical business practices of a competitor like Nuance Communications?
I plan on working in the pattern recognition software industry. Some research into this industry led me to read about a company called “Nuance Communication.” According to this techcrunch article, ...
4
votes
3answers
209 views
What are the particulars of registering a software patent?
Greetings all,
Situation
In the realm of software, much of what we do can be found elsewhere in other developers' softwares. I am concerned because while my web app is unique and novel in certain ...
4
votes
2answers
236 views
patent application filed without my name
I had a mobile application idea and shared my idea with my co-worker.
Later, he suggested we file for a provisional patent together. We verbally agreed that each of us owns half of the patent rights ...
4
votes
2answers
307 views
Can a patent troll sue an overseas company?
Consider a common situation.
A patent troll owning US patents finds a fresh target, decides to threaten it, his lawyer looks up the company address and surprise! it's not in the US. Let's say it is ...
4
votes
3answers
149 views
Patents for Content Management Systems
I'm currently developing a Content Management System designed to manage video media. I have taken a look online and seen that there have been (US) patents filed for content management systems in the ...
4
votes
1answer
209 views
Is patent enforcement insurance all it's cracked up to be?
There are a few companies out there that seem to offer insurance packages for small(er) players in a market that want to be able to defend patents that are likely to be infringed.
On the face of it, ...
4
votes
1answer
43 views
a problem on applying for patent
I'm on the process of applying for patent where I work.
I'm an engineer. I prepare for applying for patent with some idea.
Decisions are made that my idea could be a patent.
So company give a work to ...
3
votes
3answers
520 views
Inventing a simple medical device and getting a patent before talking with a medical device builder
My wife is a surgical nurse and noticed a particular difficulty that surgeons have been having with a specific procedure. She has a beautifully simple idea for a relatively simple device that makes ...
3
votes
4answers
206 views
Is it hard to get into the hardware business?
In my head, I see the entry to the hardware business very difficult due to all the patents. Is this true or is it just me?
Say I want to create a simple mobile phone with touch capabilities. What ...
3
votes
2answers
358 views
Do I need to apply for a patent?
My friends, wife, and even a partner, are all urging me to at least apply for a patent to discourage others from attempting to implement similar and/or competing software.
Is this a worthwhile ...
3
votes
3answers
371 views
Where to publish innovative idea to create prior art status related the invention
A friend has an innovative idea about a service. To protect the idea from future patents, he has the idea to make the invention available to the public domain.
Is a blog a relevant place to describe ...
3
votes
3answers
162 views
Avoiding patent litigation by only operating in Europe
Software patents are a hell hole in the US and we want to get out of it by operating (at least initially) in Europe. If a US company only operates in Europe (say this is a web app) would we still be ...
3
votes
3answers
411 views
What kind of software can be patented?
I've heard that only algorithms that are "non-obvious" can be patented. What does this mean?
Can someone give me examples of software that is patentable and software that is not?
3
votes
1answer
65 views
Research if patent holder is a troll
I've recently discovered a patent for a product that's in the field of the product I'm working on. The patent itself has zero direct resemblance to the product I'm working on, but there are "early ...
3
votes
1answer
242 views
Dealing with Similar Patents
What are some guidelines or tests I can use to figure out if I have a chance at getting patent for an idea when there are similar, but not identical, patents out there?
I don't know how to best ...
3
votes
3answers
155 views
Getting Clearance Opinion on Software Related Patents
We're in the process of designing a web application and discovered a patent that lays claim to many basic web technologies that we are planning to use (like passing simulation data from a server to a ...
3
votes
3answers
124 views
provisional patent application
i submitted a provisional patent application from an foreign country @uspto.gov a few months ago , i researched and find out my idea worth a non provisional patent application (i made it public). is ...
2
votes
5answers
313 views
Enjoy patent pending status, or file for an early reivew?
My start up is getting ready to launch a retail product, for which we have filed (and expect to be granted) a patent application. The typical time for a patent to be reviewed is about 2-3 years, and ...
2
votes
2answers
572 views
How do I protect my idea before launching my web-service?
I have a unique idea about a web-service.
How do I protect against duplicating my idea before launching?
I'm afraid I'd end up rivaling against massive number of competitors like Groupon does now.
I'm ...
2
votes
6answers
5k views
Is there a patent on Groupon.com?
I am thinking about starting a niche collective buying website in the US that is similar to Groupon.com
Is Groupon patented? Is it legal to create a competitor website?
2
votes
5answers
365 views
Can an innovative data visualization be patented or protected in some way?
I'm working on developing a product in the US with many potential competitors. None of the current products deals very well with analysis once the data is collected. I have several unexplored data ...
2
votes
3answers
232 views
What happens if someone fails to patent?
I was shocked to see that www.spypig.com patents are not found in patent search and my friend patented that procedure as his idea and submitted and received the patent rights.
Now can he send a ...
2
votes
3answers
232 views
I'm afraid someone's patenting my ideas
I had a brainstorming session with a friend a year and a half ago, and a lot of great ideas came out of it. I moved on the ideas, starting a company - our product has been on the market for about 10 ...
2
votes
2answers
88 views
How do I find a patent application?
So, a competitor is announcing that their new product is "patent applied for".
I'd be interested in seeing what their patent application covers - how do I go about finding the patent application to ...
2
votes
2answers
97 views
Can a license to a patent be considered a company's IP
Can a license to a patent be considered a company's IP or asset? What can constitute as a company's IP?
2
votes
1answer
87 views
Non-Dilutable Stock for patent purchase
I currently hold a patent and I'm looking to possibly sell it to a company for 5% stake.
I have interested investors in the idea, but need to move the patent into their company. The company's ...
2
votes
1answer
99 views
Violating US patents by having servers or domain name registered in the US
Following this question:
What to do before offering e-services from EU to US?
I have another one:
A concern has been raised that if you have your servers in the US you may infringe a US patent. Is ...
2
votes
3answers
194 views
How can I find out if a US company has a patent in the UK?
I am trying to set up a leisure centre in the Uk with an idea that is from the US. They have a US patent and say that they have a UK patent pending.
1.How can I find out if they do have a patent ...
2
votes
1answer
174 views
Should I file patent under my startup's name or my own name
I am a founder of a startup company. I need to apply one or more patents for the software that I am developing and about to release. Now I wonder whether I should file it under my name or file under ...
2
votes
1answer
212 views
How Should I Deal With Intellectual Property
Intellectual property is a subject that has far reaching implications for your business. There are several different types of intellectual property that every business deals with. They include: ...
2
votes
1answer
60 views
Does the internet count as prior art for fending of a patent troll?
We have been building and running a software company since 2009. Today I spoke to someone on the phone who claims to have a patent on the area we work in since 2010. I can find a few examples of where ...
2
votes
2answers
91 views
Guideline for self-filing a provisional patent application
I'm looking to file a provisional patent application in Canada and the US. From what I've been told, the process is not easily out-sourceable, and I'm on a shoestring startup budget. I would like to ...
