Seriously, great site and I really enjoyed this article. I had been at a bookstore tonight and considered checking out the “how to get a patent” books on an idea I have, but couldn’t face it.

Maybe its best if I don’t face it at all

Put a link to you on my site, for what it’s worth.

http://www.craftacraft.com/lunada_design

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Hi Bruce,

Thanks for the note and my apologies for not getting to the correspondence sooner. The patent game is a curious enterprise and not for the feint hearted as costs and realities lurk around every corner.

Thanks for the link as it all helps.

Chris

Chris O

If one doesn’t have any commercial interest, then it is mainly an ego thing. The ego drive is getting pretty thin these days, as the patent office issues patents with the gusto of a Mortgage broker pre-crash.

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Agreed, Thom. To me, it all comes down to the best place to spend the available cash. Being a guy from working class roots, I tend to avoid attorneys as much as is possible.

Chris O

1. You do not consider it hard to write your own patent. That is highly commendable, but perhaps you may wish to consider that most folks do not have a solid level of control over their own mother tongue, much less apply themselves to learn another with different sentence structure and grammatical nuance. Go read the postings that are put up on the average discussion forum and you’ll see that the desire to communicate has far outstripped the ability of the average person to actually write that need with any kind of accomplished skill. It’s even worse to expect them to be able to write a patent application and support it with a long list of arcane descriptions.

2. The assigned exclusivity of the patent is only as good as the willingness and financial ability of the holder to defend that right in court. If the holder can not, or chooses to not, defend the right, then the patent becomes instantly useless as a tool of anything exclusive. The claims are moot without a pursuit of defending the process.

3. Publication only serves those who would choose to produce their own version of said patentable item. It gives anyone of them a dandy target for making their own version, just different enough that they can easily get around the patent claims of the original holder.

4. Protecting one’s rights are totally and inextricably intertwined with the patenting process. Without a protection process from the original holder, the patent is virtually non-functional. This process can range from the kindly worded initial communication, to the full-on court business of filing suit. Nevertheless, it is connected completely and has no reason to exist without the original patent. One does not go out and sue people for creating their own product unless there is a function of the law from which they can operate in the first place. Hence, the patent and the defense of same go hand in hand.

Maybe you are one of the fortunate folks who have the financial wherewithal to pursue the individuals, or companies, that swipe your patented ideas for their own gain. Believe me, it makes me happy if that is the case. Unfortunately, the vast majority of those who have patents issued each year are not so well endowed financially and, as a result, they can only sit and watch as they are functionally ripped-off by someone else.

Thank you for your contribution here, Roger. It’s always good to hear from the other side of the argument and I wish you great success in your efforts.

Best Regards,

Chris Ostlind

I can really relate to that second paragraph of yuors about the alternate process for bringing a small production item to the marketplace.

The patent process can be a weird and convoluted maze of thoughts and pure outlay of cash; sometimes good and sometimes not so good.

I wish you all the best in your folding kayak endeavor and would be excited to here how things are going as you get closer to your unveiling. Feel free to write me directly as I’d like to hear how things are going for you.

Best,

Chris

Your letter is a powerful testament to the driving burn of invention. It seems to be a thing that is “just there” for a small group of folks who’s minds never rest. You are very much one of those guys and I share your joy in the process.

I just got your email and I’ll respond to your interest in the Z65 as soon as I dig myself out of a small pile of obligations.

Best,

Chris

I now think that the way to go is to get the idea out in the world and try to get as much publicity as you can so you have a head start on the copiers. Make your big bucks in the first year and then when the copies come out slash your price to stop them from getting any of your marketshare, meanwhile you come out with the next generation. Rinse and repeat as needed.
I am currently ironing out some production details and setting up manufacturing. Hopefully I will be selling thousands of these things by the summer.