Can I patent my design and copyright software???

Projects General Guidance
21

WooleySheep:
Lol, yes I know, but in their current financial state, I may be ok for a bit!

It is precisely that state that will make the even hungrier ... :slight_smile:

It is a reasonable strategy for a small inventor to apply for a patent with a view to selling the idea rather than defending the patent him/herself.

However it can be very difficult to value an embryonic project.

I suspect that almost none of the cost of 99% of the products we use is represented in the ideas in the underlying patents. Most of the cost of a product is in the design and development of a manufacturable product based on the idea, in the construction and operation of the manufacturing plant and in the packaging and marketing. And to make matters worse I suspect the manufacturer only gets a small fraction (20% ?) of the retail price.

And from what I've seen on Dragon's Den it is the people prepared to put a huge amount of time into marketing their product who get support. Lot's of people make very comfortable livings selling "better mousetraps"

I suspect there are parallels with the difference between "good" hometown musicians and mega-stars. It's not really, or not only, the difference in skill that separates them.

...R

22

Robin2:
I suspect there are parallels with the difference between "good" hometown musicians and mega-stars. It's not really, or not only, the difference in skill that separates them.

Very true.

I think what I need to take from this apart from thanking you all for your help, is the below:

  1. A patent is a great idea if you are selling the idea and not producing it yourself as you won't have money to fight if people copy your design.
  2. A Trademark is good and at around £200 to do it yourself (looking into that £200 if that is just for the name and then another £200 for the logo or if they both can be done at once for the £200).
  3. Software is yours and unless you are using somebody else's code that has been given for free, you don't need to give it to anybody if they ask.
  4. Lock the chip so nobody can read your code (still need to find out how to do this).

Again, thank you all so much.

If anybody can tell me where tere is a 1-2-3 guide or steps on how to lock the bits on the chip to make sure nobody can read my code, could you please let me know how.

Thanks
Alan