Patent experience?

[81MC]

Hi,
Probably ultimately a stupid endeavour, but I’m working on a product (very much early in the design/feasibility stages, reviewing with engineering etc) that I think very much qualifies for a patent.

I’ve checked through IC.GC.CA and I’m moving along alright, but on the off chance has anyone here ever done anything regarding patents? Did you use a lawyer or those tacky ‘inventor’ services, or slog through or your own way?

PS don’t worry it’s nothing too ridiculous, though some serious effort is still required to determine its practicality for desired use.

[Geraldsh]

Document your endeavour from the beginning date. No need to worry about a patent until you are successful enough that someone will try to steal or copy your idea. Stay away from those inventor helper guys.

[CaptainCrunch]

Agreed, documentation is huge. I don't think you're truly at a patent stage yet, if you don't have a MVP. Make sure that you're careful in terms of time stamping your documents as well.


I wouldn't go and pay for a patent service just yet. Not in the design phase.

[Kybosh]

Funding is available through Alberta Innovates for early stage development like this. You can access $ for business plans, IP work, engineering design and testing etc. I strongly recommend working with IP specialists as $10-30k now could save you $1M+ down the line.

Check out their voucher program.

[calumniate]

https://images.app.goo.gl/VDV1mZM7vaMJATuB8

[blankall]

Depends on what your idea is. Documenting it is great, but unless you actually go through the patent process you're not preserving anything. Without going through the disclosure/patent process, you risk someone else disclosing and/or filing first. Canada has a "first to file" system, and unless you can prove the other party straight up stole your idea from you, you're SOL. It doesn't matter if you can prove that you had the idea first.

If it really is a good idea, I'd get a lawyer to help you with the process. Be careful though, a lot of lawyers will charge you $3-5k to provide you with an opinion on a patent they know is unlikely to succeed. So I'd do a lot of your own research on the patent before paying for the lawyer.

[81MC]

Thanks guys. The first to file thing is what prompted me to look at a patent. If I’m understanding correctly, a material change to something with an existing patent qualifies for its own. Currently I believe there are two existing patents filed within the last two years for similar but less well-engineered products (in my humble opinion of course) so I’d like to try and get in there before someone else sees the improvement potential.

I’ll start documenting everything better. Concept and design are in place but product material and spec are a ways off for me but the real crux of usability.

[Fozzie_DeBear]

My $0.02 be really sure that there is a path to market for you and that the invention really meets a need for someone who can pay. It would suuuuuck to invest in a patent for something that has no market, or that you pay for a claim that doesn't really matter to protecting your options.

I work in this space and would be happy if you have questions....PM me