You said it very well. Patents give you the right to sue other people. Nothing more nothing less. Practically this means you also need the financial resources to do so. Trademarks are a very similar story, in that case you even have to actively "hunt" other companies otherwise you can even lose the trademark.

I've been an inventor, designer, manufacturer, and marketer of hundreds of professional technical tools for more than 50-years and have never applied for a patent on a single one! In the 80's I read an article from a fellow inventor stating the following: patents provide zero protection, they provide only one thing, the precedent to sue an infringer in a court of law. If you do not have the sizeable money to pay an attorney to bring this lawsuit to court, attorneys will rarely if ever, take a patent infringement case on contingency, unless it provides multiple millions of dollars for the attorney. In addition, if you do not bring suit against every infringer on your patent, you will lose the ability to bring suit after only one year! This is why I've never applied for a patent, I simply marketed my products with a money back guarantee of utility, and at a reasonable price for the marketplace. David Riddle

Patents are still required by most investors whether they can be infringed|/worked around or not!

Hello Steven, this is Tweetie Dao, one of your original regular guests in Palo Alto , CA almost 20 years ago. I even held Andrew's Baby while he was at the signing table or on stage... It's so miraculous and amazing that I was just hanging up a call with a Patent Attorney named Ray W. in Alabama who advised me to contact you guys and get help with my many ideas. What You are talking here is exactly what he told me just 10+ ago about patents are not needed....I will contact your company next week. Have a great weekend and HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO YOU , ANDREW AND OTHER FATHERS IN YOUR COMPANY!

This guy told me exactly what I wanted to hear. For I was looking for a way around getting a patent while still being protected. In which I thought about using social media for exposure, plus being the one(the inventor) to release it into the market for several months, and doing a whole lot of other things(outside of patents) to prove that I'm the inventor. So thank you, KZfaq content inventor for confirming what I was already thinking.

I think a patent is needed for no other reason than some other bigger player sees your idea and puts their own patent on it essentially locking you out of your own idea. If you have the patent at least you have options. 🤷‍♂️

Thank you for the info. My question is about how to protect process inventions, inventions that don't have a product to manufacture and sell but rather show a new way to do something that is better and more cost-effective, saving the builder/user a lot of money.

(This is why you make you patents as BROAD as possible and make as many variations as you can think of.)

Just a heads up. Several companies on your list of companies interested into products that require a patent. Tovolo is the latest one that rejected my idea because I only have a PPA. "we will only consider using an invention if it is patented with a patented published number. Please submit the published patent number" (which means you have to have $5k-$20k to MIGHT be able to license a product which MIGHT make money) That list badly needs to be updated and reviewed by your team. Some of the companies aren't taking ideas. If I might make a suggestion. It might be smart to update the list of companies that require a patent vs PPA.

In the past for many years I haven't been paid the amount of money I earned and most of the time I have done casual work or just work as a mechanic at my leisure. However, very valuable work, honestly. So I think time has come to bring some change with it. Change needed, honestly.

I like what you're doing for people. This is the first time I've watched you and I'm happy to say it won't be my last.

Having a patent does give you some legal rights for example someone can't prevent you from selling the item if you've got the rights to it

Top guy. I read your book ‘One Simple Idea’.

Your words are GOLD.. THANK YOU. That what I was thinking, and you reinforced my decisions..

Thanks for all of your great videos Stephen!(and Andrew, Amy Jo, etc.!) After your webinar with Jim at Hangman Products, I decided to change the product I was focusing on. Yesterday, I submitted an idea to Jim with only a prototype video demonstration.. *fingers crossed

Don't be fearful be careful !

Patents can be worked around. I have an utility model of a fast charging system on mobile phones, but HMD global (Nokia) stole the design. The stolen design is on the Nokia G22

Inventions hardly exist now because I'd argue that most inventions are variations of what already exists - though not all of them. I think a design type patent is the new hybrid (not talking about a design registration - talking about a variation of a design to make it function more efficiently, universally or have more adaptability. Look at pochade boxes or folding palettes - there's so much prior art that predict their future design....

Thank you for this video. I have an educational patent out pending right now. I wanted to sell the idea but dont have much money. So this was a great eye opener in a good way of what to avoid. I'm not trying to get rich, just educate people with my invention and might have to go sell it myself. Social media definitely has influence if the internet doesnt filter us. Thank you!

Thanks. Ive come up with an idea and need to know how to get started. Good info. Recommendations on where i can research if someone has already created it?

Damn… I’m too late. I filed a patent months ago. Well… let’s see what happens. I invested way too much now to just give up and lose hope

Take a deep dive with Stephen Key: www.inventright.com/deepdive

Hi - great video and very informative. One question though - if you want to license a product to a big company I assume you don't build a brand on social media before you do that? Can or should you do that?

This is fantastic advice. I was letting the fear of IP theft prevent me from continuing the development cycle for my software. I think what matters more is helping people by going to market with my product, moreso than worrying about trying to protect it in court, which is too much hassle.

There is one exception, no? AIA. Someone can come along and take everything from you because they filed instead of you. Might be best to at least file something, even if it doesn't get issued/you don't go for non-prov where applicable. Gotta be first to file. I could be misunderstanding AIA but, that's the way I seem to understand it.

Ty for being open about ur hard time to help us, i learn the hard way too. That`s why i`m here watching this vid before it happens something near that this time also. Now this vid. actually does help me not doing a mistake like this things` .

Stephen, thanks for the videos and the direction!

This is why I never bothered pursuing one for any of the original ideas I had. Without the desire to develop and produce the items/products myself nor the resources to protect my IP if I did (if that's even possible with countries that operate in China), they would just be expensive plaques to hang on the wall and I have plenty of art for that.

Good video. Entrance into the subject. Thanks!

It depends on what the "Subject" is being patented, as to what a Patent will Protect. :) Most companies won't steal ideas in the fear of being sued or having to sue back.

Thank you for sharing your experience.

I think this video could be more popular with title like WHY I SUED LEGO.

Yes, sir. Thank you for sharing.

wow! such a great video! What you are saying really adds value for people who want to engage in these kind of activities!

THANKS

Why is nobody telling us this. This should be first when u search patent.

Thank you so much for this information it gave me much confidence. 💜

Is changing a design slightly or changing some material used on the patented product legal?

Thank you Steven and Andrew for the information! I’ve heard you mention Steven at one point in some video that you contacted a patent owner about a patent they have out there and talked with them to see why they never step forward with it. I’m curious how I can get a hold of them. Also If I can, what is the best respectful approach? I’ve been looking at google patents and I’m seeing names but not any contact information.

VERY GOOD INFO!! LOVE YOUR VIDEOS!!

This guy: I'll get to that in just a minute The minute:

If you change the actual mechanical operation of an patented product, does that constitute it being a new idea, even though it still works the same way somewhat and much easier to use?

That's right ! But being granted a patent proves that the invention belongs to whom ! This is very useful for the startup venture afterwards !

Hello Sir, I have invented a mechanical automatic toy that is not available in the market, please tell me should I go for a patent or simply approach a large company in this field,I also fear that if I demonstrate the details to the company they might copy it and release the product in the market.

I've heard that there are multi-billion dollar companies that don't even have patents on their products . From what I heard from attorneys but I don't know if it's true.

Was the settlement worth the wait? Knowing you can get a worthwhile settlement if you get a patent is huge for your viewers as then the patent is worth while, so if you could share that aspect it would much appreciated.

But without the patent and the subsequent NDA, you would have NOTHING. You DID "settle" with LEGO. They didn't just TAKE your invention for free. Failing to get a patent for a novel idea that could be profitable and has great potential is LAZY. If you think you are changing the way things are done, and you do a CBA and it comes out well "in the black" GET A PATENT.

Well many people don’t want to bother with someone suing them so, so that has value

This is great advice! Thank you!

very good videos as always old man

Glad I research before I research before I uhh etc.etc. lol thanks for the info brother!

thank you for this video. i have hopes for utility patents and will keep your wisdom close at hand.

If someone is going to challenge your invention and you vent afford to fight it they can steal your invention and not much you can do about it. Now I'm reluctant to even try to get a patent. I need help making the prototype so how am I going to do that without getting my invention stolen?

Great video Stephen. Perhaps you can make another explaining to all these poor folks exactly what the PTAB is and why there's little point in getting a patent if you can't afford to spend hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars to defend it at the PTAB. Even then there's no guarantee you will get to keep your patent or at least the claims that matter. The US patent system is really broken.

If patents don't ultimately protect, what process is the most efficient way to protect an idea or an app?

If you have a great invention but no patent, someone may happened to file a patent for it and he can prevent you from doing anything with it

True - companies can & do infringe. I had to sue Mattel, Spiral Toys (Cloud Pets) & Toy Talk, Inc in the Southern & Northern District of California. (HASHEM blessed me with legal aptitude in 2014 - met with Stanford Law School in 2016 - timing wasn't right ⚖) I handled the cases ProSe. Litigation and intellectual property attorneys are not cheap haha. You are a rare case getting an attorney on contingency - most major toy companies know individual/small time inventors cannot afford protracted legal battles in Federal Court (hundreds of thousands of dollars ) PS per Prior Art - a patent will never go to issuance if there is Prior Art. My #12/659,756 patent was published. Had some toy companies "Jam" it from issuance Congrats Steve on settling 👏

soooo what do Apple to protect that iphone so much because if i steal it im out of here sued and glued if its not the patent they have then what is it. the video is a great idea but you said alot without saying anything at all

You need good ideas and good pricing

I have an awesome idea on a great invention. I can't disclose details. But my concern is whom do I present my idea to and they will not steal it. Should I contact an attorney first and if so what will be my next steps. Thanks for the videos

how do you contact those companies if you want to license a idea you have?

I have a revolutionary idea and I’m here because I want to start finding a way of acting on the idea. This will change the life of many people nationwide and beyond. I need help.

I have an idea, I will have a prototype in 1 week. Do you recommend selling my product and market-testing it first? or paying for a patent first?

You may be lucky to hear that voice from your head as i did,maybe giving you the thumbs up for your creation.

So if I make cars different and more unique and patent this and that they can still copy it after my car is in production

Great advice 👏

thank you so much !

Thank you for the video 👍

Excellent Video

I have an idea to resolve a problem for a major automaker. I am seeing owners posting the problem on youtube constantly. The clever idea for a product I came up with is geneious and rather simplistic. Where do I start? Thanks

Very interesting.

What about technology devvelopment like in RF chips designs ?? Should one get a patent if someone come up with a new technology or new way to design chips ?

thanks

THANK YOU SIR

Where do we start??.. I have an idea. What is the best protection???... Can you recommend a good attorney as well as design/ manufacturer company?. Ty!

Hi, learn a lot from you, Thank you, i have a Question... If i have an Idea and Execute the Product can someone come later Patent and Sue Me...? because i didnt Patent before...

I found a patent for measuring airflow in a duct using differential pressure to determine flow rate. There is already existing prior art in this arena as well as a device which has been on the open market for 20 years with the same description. People have been measuring airflow with the exact same technique for many years. I want to develop my own airflow instrument using the same tried and true principles and am worried about being sued. Should I just sell it and hope I don't get sued?

So its a good idea to video record with timestamps your invention perhaps with a newspaper print?

Hi , I had an idea made a prototype and went to inventhelp, the person I met he kept calling me to move forward with the idea, but then after about 8 months I see the same product in the market. What do I do, please help. Thank you

Now I’m discouraged bc as he said 100% of the times alibaba will rip your idea and patents won’t do a damn thing.

Steve, what details do I exclude from conversation with potential licensee without a PPA? I can’t find the video where you discussed this.

Too bad someone hasn't invent a patent to prevent patent trolls. I would be first in line to file such a document because the risk is so high and have happened already. Kindest Regards, Aiden Alamo

"I'm not sad that they stole my idea, I'm sad that they don't have any original ideas of their own." -unknown

Design parents are not about words, they are about pictures.

Hello from modesto!

Is there any concern of you developing something for open source or not for profit and a big company likes the buzz you are getting and worry it may disrupt their profits so they rip it off, say they have been working on it for a while, and file all the legal paperwork for patents or IP much quicker than you could, to strongarm you out of making something to help people... [Like I want them to try to improve the design and profit of it if so but I don't want them to stop people from accessing it from other pathways.] Is this a thing that could/does happen?

I had no idea that Robert De Niro knew so much about patents!

Can you create a new product from another product as a source? What sort of arrangement can you make with a company to do this?

I have a good idea but dont have the process of making the product. Mold plastic and wiring. It is very simple but I'm not sure what to do about it. I sketched my own idea and emailed it to myself in a pass worded zip file until I can figure out what to do with it :(

Hay jimmy nice talking with you guys

Do these stipulations seem reasonable for Kohler’s NDA? While Kohler Co. and its affiliated companies, all being herein referred to herein as “KOHLER”, are anxious to improve their products and processes, and add profitable new items to their product lines, they have found certain precautions desirable in accepting disclosures of ideas. In this regard, KOHLER employees have varied and numerous ideas of their own which have been developed in the past, or are now under research and development. Further, they may have access to the information of certain other companies. Some of these ideas might, by chance, be similar to your own. In order to avoid confusion between your ideas, KOHLER’s own, and these other ideas, and to prevent any misunderstanding as to what the rights and obligations of the discloser and KOHLER are relating thereto, KOHLER’s policies as to considering such disclosures are set forth below: 1. KOHLER requires there to be an issued patent, or at least a published patent application, which is owned by or licensed to you, covering the idea disclosed before KOHLER will evaluate your idea. 2. Regardless of what you disclose, and regardless of the extent to which it is embodied in such an issued patent or published patent application, KOHLER does not agree to hold your disclosure in confidence. Among other things, in order to evaluate your idea KOHLER may want to disclose your idea to various employees and/or to those outside of KOHLER’s employ. In addition, agreements to hold in confidence are sometimes misunderstood to entail certain obligations that are not in fact intended. It is understood, therefore, that no confidential relationship or agreement to compensate is entered into by reason of KOHLER’s considering your disclosure. You thus rely only on your rights under the patent law and copyright law. 3. To the extent we request (or you otherwise provide) additional supplemental information beyond that in the patent or patent application, the above paragraph 2 will still apply. 4. KOHLER is not required to return any descriptions, drawings, or other material sent to KOHLER by you or on your behalf. For example, KOHLER may wish to preserve a record of what was disclosed for some period of time. Therefore you should keep a duplicate of any disclosure sent to KOHLER. You also hereby provide KOHLER with permission to make copies of the materials you disclose insofar as KOHLER believes appropriate in order to evaluate your disclosure. 5. KOHLER is under no obligation to reveal to you information of its own, or its knowledge of the specific field to which your disclosure relates. To the extent KOHLER makes such disclosures, nothing herein is intended to relieve you from any obligations you may have by virtue of the conditions that such disclosures are made to you under. 6. Any disclosure to KOHLER is made on the understanding that KOHLER assumes no obligation to consider the disclosure, and KOHLER assumes no obligation to indicate to you whether or not KOHLER is interested in your disclosure. KOHLER is under no obligation thereafter to commercially introduce your concept or test it beyond such a level as it may find appropriate. 7. However, KOHLER receives no patent license to practice your invention (absent a further agreement) as a result of this disclosure, except as reasonably needed to evaluate your disclosure (e.g. internal tests). This disclosure relates to (title of your invention) ___________________________________________________, as embodied the following patent-related document(s) (publication or patent number(s)) _______________________. It is made on the conditions set forth above, and is effective as of ________________________. Individual making submission ________________________________ or name of Company making submission ______________________________________ (Company Name) By: ___________________________________ Title: __________________________________

Great video, How about a scenario where a copy cat company develops a patent for a stolen idea and then uses that to sue the original inventor to stop selling???

I'm curious what the work around was that made Lego able to steal your idea or improve it cause that's some BS TBH.

i left something out on my ppa that i already filed... what should i do? file another?

WOW! So...your patent did protect your idea; it was just that your idea was not protected properly in the patent. In other words, your patent caused then to have to work around, as you said. SO...your premise that patents do not prevent people from steeling your invention is not correct; you should have titles this video: My patent did not protect me from other people stealing my invention BECAUSE my patent was written poorly!!!

Thank you omg

Can you patent something that is patented by another person in another country?

if you make a u tube video showing and explaining your idea, Doesnt that prove that you are the original creator of that invention.. because it has an upload date .ALSO what if you started selling it on an ETSY online store... would that protect the original creator ?

Community service work may matter in appreciation only you know.

Hi.. Can a method be patented?? Not a physical product..