Legal Question in Intellectual Property in Kentucky

Disclosure of your invention to the company without (i) having a non-disclosure agreement in place or (ii) having previously filed for a patent on your invention may impact your ability to later protect the invention.

In the US, for instance, you are given one year from the date of public disclosure of your invention to file for a patent on that invention. In much of the rest of the world, you immediately lose the ability to patent your invention if no patent application was filed prior to public disclosure.

The cost of a patent application varies greatly, depending on the field of the invention and the type of application to be filed.

If you wish to properly protect your invention and any intellectual property rights you may have in the invention, it is highly recommended that you speak to a registered patent attorney.

If you would like, we provide a free document outlining the basics of the patent process. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like a copy of this document.

Kind regards,

James Michael Smedley, Esq.

Managing Member

The Sigma Law Group LLC

As a Franchise Attorney I can say this. Don't sign their form; it will cause you to forfeit any rights you have to your idea. The way to protect yourself is using a well-worded NDA (Nondisclosure Agreement). Patents are costly, take years and have a very high dismissal rate if ever challenged. Consult with a good business or franchise attorney in your area for specific advice.

Mr. Franchise - Kevin B. Murphy, B.S., M.B.A., J.D.

Franchise Foundations, a Professional Corporation