Either directly in D.C. or for a patent attorney? I have an idea I think would be quite successful. I would just like more information on patents. It does not look like a patent exists for what I would like to design, but I could be wrong in my rather brief search. I thought I would check here before contacting someone directly at USPTO.

11/16/2008 9:54:06 PM

PM sent.

11/16/2008 10:08:40 PM

You cannot patent ideas.

11/17/2008 1:24:45 AM

someone who actually examines patents won't help you -- at least they're not sposed to. all they can tell you is that it is "advantageous to secure a patent attorney or agent," but really, that's the best advice someone can give you in this aspect. DO NOT try to patent something yourself. patent law is tricky and it just isn't worth it to try and do it yourself.

Noen is technically correct -- you cannot patent an idea. simply put, you patent methods or systems, but any idea can be pigeonholed into one of those if not both.

it seems like you have done some searching already, but if you haven't already checked it out, http://www.google.com/patents is a very good searching resource. the uspto public search is ok, but nothing compares to the internal BRS search system they use. anyone from the public can use it, but you have to go to Alexandria to do it.

good luck and if you have any other questions, feel free to send a pm.

11/17/2008 1:51:38 AM

for some reason i've always imagined this to be boring as ever-loving fuck

11/17/2008 8:53:01 PM