Prototype
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 775
Likes: 0
From: Louavul, KY
Prototype
I have fabricated a pretty neat mod to my Street Bob and actually had a lot of bikers say that I need to get a patent started. I have a couple prototypes
with a few hundred miles on the one I want to market. Problem is, I don't have a clue as to where to begin. Hoping some of the legal people would be able to point me in the right direction.
I have been asked by 10-12 riders to make one for them, but don't want to go that route yet.........
I called one of my local dealers (didn't give out any info to them) just to inquire, they were EXTREMELY interested, and wanted to see, but they would'nt agree to ANYTHING. They wanted their techs to look it over and go from there. That didn't fly.
So, I am hoping that someone on here could point me in the right direction!
Anybody???????????
xmarine
with a few hundred miles on the one I want to market. Problem is, I don't have a clue as to where to begin. Hoping some of the legal people would be able to point me in the right direction.
I have been asked by 10-12 riders to make one for them, but don't want to go that route yet.........
I called one of my local dealers (didn't give out any info to them) just to inquire, they were EXTREMELY interested, and wanted to see, but they would'nt agree to ANYTHING. They wanted their techs to look it over and go from there. That didn't fly.
So, I am hoping that someone on here could point me in the right direction!
Anybody???????????
xmarine
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 5,384
Likes: 12
From: Out on Deranged
Very intriguing , I understand the secrecy but we are all going to be totally piqued here . I'm not in law at all just a lowly construction man , so I'm sorry to pry , but does this have any thing to do with handlevar mounted weponry!?
Sorry man i had to! You being a marine and all I'd like to thank you for helping to enable our liberty!
Sorry man i had to! You being a marine and all I'd like to thank you for helping to enable our liberty!
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,919
Likes: 23
From: Seattle, WA
You need to talk to (and probably pay a fee to) a patent or "intellectual property" attorney (vice any 'plain vanilla' attorney) ... don't know if we have any in our number on the forum ...
They'll be able to advise you on the necessary steps to legally protect your intellectual property (invention) ....
Once you do that, you can find a way to produce/partner/franchise the idea and begin to reap some of the fruits ....
I don't know any attorneys in the Louisville, KY geographic area, but you could do a search at the website www.martindale.com ... it's the website for Martindale-Hubbell, one of the most established directories available. You can search by geographic location and legal specialty ... hope this helps.
R/
Priest
- another thought, you might look for a layman's guide (online or print) to patent law for some background and general information ....
They'll be able to advise you on the necessary steps to legally protect your intellectual property (invention) ....
Once you do that, you can find a way to produce/partner/franchise the idea and begin to reap some of the fruits ....
I don't know any attorneys in the Louisville, KY geographic area, but you could do a search at the website www.martindale.com ... it's the website for Martindale-Hubbell, one of the most established directories available. You can search by geographic location and legal specialty ... hope this helps.
R/
Priest
- another thought, you might look for a layman's guide (online or print) to patent law for some background and general information ....
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,062
Likes: 2
From: Southwest OHIO
here is what i have heard. get all your papers.. drawings, designs, pictures, and lots of it. get you a big letter envelope and mail it to yourself (certified), BUT DONT OPEN IT when you get it back. That way you have everything you designed, in a sealed, envelope with dates as to when it was mailed. keep it unopened.
i guess this will just show, if anyone tries to copy your idea, that you made it first and have governemt proof (USPS) as to when you designed it. if whoever else tries to make one, they wont have any proof as to when they made it. but you will have proof that you made it on such and such date, and you have an unopened envelope with dates, address, etc.
then you need to go to your local patten office, the larger citys around you should have one somewhere! they can tell you next steps you need to apply for patten. then after you get a patten, then you can go to companies like kuryakyn, hd, and others to see if anyone is interested in buying the patten from ya. hope this helps a bit
i'd maybe mail yourself two copies, keep one at your house and maybe one in a safety deposit box, if a have one. if not two copies is better than one, maybe store it at your some relations house who will not open or mess with it.
us patent and trade mark office
http://www.uspto.gov/
click "inventory support"
i also designed a mc part and have thought about patenting it, but who knows.
i guess this will just show, if anyone tries to copy your idea, that you made it first and have governemt proof (USPS) as to when you designed it. if whoever else tries to make one, they wont have any proof as to when they made it. but you will have proof that you made it on such and such date, and you have an unopened envelope with dates, address, etc.
then you need to go to your local patten office, the larger citys around you should have one somewhere! they can tell you next steps you need to apply for patten. then after you get a patten, then you can go to companies like kuryakyn, hd, and others to see if anyone is interested in buying the patten from ya. hope this helps a bit
i'd maybe mail yourself two copies, keep one at your house and maybe one in a safety deposit box, if a have one. if not two copies is better than one, maybe store it at your some relations house who will not open or mess with it.
us patent and trade mark office
http://www.uspto.gov/
click "inventory support"
i also designed a mc part and have thought about patenting it, but who knows.
Last edited by shimmon; Apr 17, 2009 at 12:57 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 667
Likes: 1
From: Vancouver Wa.
dude the patent process is extremely expensive. It is something you will want to consider when you estimate how much you think you will make off of your product over life of the patent. I have my name in a couple from work but I have not even bothered with anything I do from home. If I was you I would sooner that later draw up and describe your idea in detail and then go get it notarized. This puts a legal time stamp on you idea and even if someone rip's you off or even patents it, you may have some legal right for a portion of the proceeds.
+1 on that. i work in the design biz ... Talk to an intellectual property attorney before you do anything else. Protect yourself, your idea and investment ... That includes your time bro. Your time is money. He/she can steer you in the right direction re. applying for a patent.
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 406
Likes: 2
From: Brownsburg, IN
Word of warning... you sell one or show it off it becomes public domain... you can still patent it... but not if someone else beats you to it. You could sell or give it to me, and I could go patent it myself, even if I say I got it or purchased from you.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,530
Likes: 1
From: Upstate, SC
Exactly. I'm not a patent attorney, but I am an attorney and you will be making a BIG mistake if you show this to your dealer or anyone else without first consulting with a patent attorney to start the ball rolling to protect your rights to the design.
