Legal Question in Intellectual Property in North Carolina

Re: Protect Non-Patentable Computer Design Idea

New designs of existing computers are not precluded from being patentable. They may be patentable if not obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art of computer design. See me or any other patent attorney competent in the computer arts for advice. Without a pending or issued patent, you will not get far in trying to interest any company. If the device is inevitable, then you may have a patent that is inevitably going to be infringed. That is what made the late Jerome Llemelson a mutlimillionaire on his bar coding patents.

See my website at www.burdlaw.com for more information. I am the one you should be talking to on this.

Re: Protect Non-Patentable Computer Design Idea

In general most improvements to existing products can be patented subject to the normal requirements of novelty, utility and non-obviousness. In my experience, usually some type of patent application must be file either before the venture capital market or potential licensees will talk to you regarding your product. Any and all negotiations that you have with anyone must be covered by some type of non-disclosure agreement. One type of filing that could be made for a nominal fee would be a provisional patent application for a nominal filing fee of $75.00 plus the attorneys fees. As an independent small inventor you could file a provisional application with the USPTO to give preliminary protection. The application consists of a disclosure and coversheet and preliminary drawings if needed. Contact a patent attorney in your area for further discussions.

Good Luck.

Re: Protect Non-Patentable Computer Design Idea

What makes you think it isn't patentable? Because it's so obvious? If so, why isn't it out there already? Get a prelim. patent in advance and then shop it around.