To publish or patent... that is the ?
To publish or patent... that is the ?
(OP)
Over the years I have compiled a small horde of circuits that are either enhancements to existing ideas or (what I believe to be) novel approaches to solving problems. The question is, what do I do with them?
Should I send them to one of the industry rags and hope to line my pockets with a few Benjamins, or should I remove a few Benjamins from my wallet and apply for a patent? Either would do nicely for my resume, but it comes down to a rate of return versus risk. An industry rag publication would be more immediate gratification (money in my pocket) but may not have as high a dazzle factor as a patent, whereas a patent will have a higher dazzle factor at the cost of my hard-earned money, a longer wait time, and (greater?) possibility of rejection.
It should be noted that I would most likely NOT defend any patent received as it wouldn't be worth the money/time/energy, I would simply be getting them for the gee-whiz factor... looks good on the resume and you can always say "I thought of that idea first".
Your comments/criticisms welcomed and appreciated...
Should I send them to one of the industry rags and hope to line my pockets with a few Benjamins, or should I remove a few Benjamins from my wallet and apply for a patent? Either would do nicely for my resume, but it comes down to a rate of return versus risk. An industry rag publication would be more immediate gratification (money in my pocket) but may not have as high a dazzle factor as a patent, whereas a patent will have a higher dazzle factor at the cost of my hard-earned money, a longer wait time, and (greater?) possibility of rejection.
It should be noted that I would most likely NOT defend any patent received as it wouldn't be worth the money/time/energy, I would simply be getting them for the gee-whiz factor... looks good on the resume and you can always say "I thought of that idea first".
Your comments/criticisms welcomed and appreciated...
Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com 





RE: To publish or patent... that is the ?
TTFN
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RE: To publish or patent... that is the ?
Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: To publish or patent... that is the ?
If it were me ... in my opinion it is an unfortunate situation, but most patents and research publications are both so full of mis-information and obfuscation that I (at least personally) consider them to be next to worth less. Add to that the fact that there is an absolute flood of patented items that really shouldn't be and in my mind this too reduces the prestige of patents. Getting your idea published in a well circulated and / or prestigous publication where it would be evaluted, critiqued and reviewed by some of the best minds in the industry, I think amongst engineers least, would have more of a "thats impressive" factor.
In retrospec, the most satisfaction I got from having my name on a patent (that I "sold" to the company I worked for) was getting the letter from the competitor's lawyer stating that they objected to the patent and were going to challenge it. The satisfaction came from the fact that it pissed them off. Of course the challenge notice went in the circular file.
RE: To publish or patent... that is the ?
Harry
RE: To publish or patent... that is the ?
RE: To publish or patent... that is the ?
Gunnar Englund
www.gke.org
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100 % recycled posting: Electrons, ideas, finger-tips have been used over and over again...
RE: To publish or patent... that is the ?
Then, when the patent is issued, you need to pay $720 issue fee, and $365 maintenance fee at 3.5 yrs, etc.
So, more than a few Benjamins, and that's assuming no lawyer involvement.
TTFN
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RE: To publish or patent... that is the ?
Gunnar Englund
www.gke.org
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100 % recycled posting: Electrons, ideas, finger-tips have been used over and over again...
RE: To publish or patent... that is the ?
Keith Cress
kcress - http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: To publish or patent... that is the ?
Besides, the U. S. patent system is clogged enough with nuisance patents, trolls, and the like. Adding patents without intending to defend them just adds more chaff.
RE: To publish or patent... that is the ?
I agree with the first statement, disagree with the second. My designs would not be a troll, they would be actual improvements over existing designs. I would not be going into the process thinking I'm going to make any money from the patents. A company with scruples would be willing to pay money to use my idea, but I don't have the inclination to waste my life suing a company without. I see no harm in letting it be known that I was the original creator... if all inventors took the attitude of "what's the point?" the big companies would have zero reason to even have lawyers, they'd just steal it every time.
Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: To publish or patent... that is the ?
The end result is companies making needless second rate compromises. That's why I say it adds more chaff.
Your design might not be a troll, but there's no way to communicate that any and all are free to use it, because that is contrary to the whole purpose of patents. As far as anyone else knows, you'll sue their pants off.
Personally, I think the patent, trademark and copyright system has some major flaws, particularly in addressing issues like what you've brought up, but I'm doubtful it will change anytime soon.
I'm also always disappointed when companies do the skirting around dance, but it happens a lot.
RE: To publish or patent... that is the ?
If you just want some patents for your wall then get one. And one only, as then you can say you have a patent for those who are easily impressed. Others probably could care less.
Keith Cress
kcress - http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: To publish or patent... that is the ?
Another good thing to have on your resume is a few publications.
TTFN
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RE: To publish or patent... that is the ?
RE: To publish or patent... that is the ?
You mentioned:
"Should I send them to one of the industry rags and hope to line my pockets with a few Benjamins, or should I remove a few Benjamins from my wallet and apply for a patent"
I went the former route and it wasn't bad. Last June, a little circuit of mine was published in "Nuts and Volts" and it wasn't all that much of an effort.
With all the time spent, I think I realized about $0.50/hr but I wanted the circuit for myself, so the software costs, and hardware design were already written off (my personal stuff, not work for hire).
Anyway, I wrote the article in an afternoon, another day for the pictures, several hours finding second sources for the display in question.
I turned it in around Thanksgiving time and it got published in June. Somewhere around, I have a scanned copy of the check.
Another "hidden cost" was reader feedback. I had used a 1n4148 diode as a power diode (but I had done my homework very carefully) and one guy complained about that. Another wanted to argue the merits of the stuff and that was fine too. We did both via email and it was fine. Other than that it was fine. Actually, it was very similar to the threads around here.
The editor that I worked with at "Nuts and Volts" was a very pleasant lady to work with. Again, except for the check, it was all email.
I did put reference to the article in my resume.
I *WOULD NOT* recommend being an author for a hobby electronic magazine and expect to make a living at it. For fun, well, what the heck!
Cheers,
Rich S.
RE: To publish or patent... that is the ?
Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: To publish or patent... that is the ?
Given that the likes of Widlar and Wilson jump started an entire industry from a handful of transistors, there are lots of possibilities.
TTFN
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RE: To publish or patent... that is the ?
Why do IBM and the likes have thousands of patents? Because big companies with big bank accounts make easy pickin's for lawsuits (think SCO) if someone thinks they are violating a patent. However, lets say you patent a circuit, and two years later you discover someone is using it without your permission..blatantly violating it. Guess what you can do? You can sue, and recover the money that you lost by the other company using your design. Whoa..wait, you never made a product using that patent? You never lost any money either. Then, you may get nothing. May is the operative word, because each case is different of course. Had this same conversation with a angel investor friend of mine the other day, and he had come to the same conclusion. Companies also do patents for pure IP sakes, so they have a portfolio when they go and try to sell themselves to another larger company.
Personally, if your an inventor or skilled engineer, you would do much better spending that money on marketing your product and making some money before the cheap imitations copy (if thats the case...nice...imitation is the best form of flattery right?) and price you out of the market. Hey if you came up with one whiz bang idea, im sure you have more and do it all over again, make some quick money and onto the next.
OK, I'm off the soapbox. Not to deter you from getting that nice plaque on the wall, but really need to think about what it is you have, and what you want to do with it. Reading the "fresh patents" website now and then, is an eye opener as well.