How to Patent Ideas

The bad news first. You can not patent just an idea. You have to build a workable model. There are also additional prerequisites to registering a patent. There are also alternative ways to make money with ideas, even if spending the time and money for a patent do not appear to be feasible.

Things You'll Need

• Knowledge or a lot of money. You can do patent research yourself or pay an attorney $100 an hour or more to do it for you.

Instructions

1. With an estimation that 95 out of every 100 ideas for a patent have already been patented. That narrows down the possibilities that you have a worthwhile patentable idea. So, the first thing to do is some patent research. There is probably one or more patent libraries in each state. You may be able to do enough patent research on the Internet to determine, if there is one or more patents already, that cover the ideas of your invention.

2. The first thing a patent attorney may tell you is just manufacture your product and put it on the market. (1) The profit made off of a product may not be enough to pay for patent costs, giving you a deficit instead of a profit. (2) If with one glance at your product, anybody can make one, who's going to stop them from making their own?

3. Many products are just manufactured keeping their trade secrets to themselves. Buying a trademark will be the likely route for such a manufacturer to pursue.

4. Another way to make money off ideas is to write books or articles. Tell every one how to make your product or products. This way you don't have to buy patents or materials to manufacture your products.

Tips & Warnings

• If you decide to file for a patent, after you've done all your homework, use a patent attorney. In the yellow pages see Attorneys-Patent, Trademark, & Copyright Law.