5 Ways to Protect Your Idea-for Less than $30
Tuesday, November 30th, 1999For all of the people out there who can’t afford the $10,000 for a patent you have come to the right place. Most people assume that a Utility patent is the only form of protection available to you. I will show you 5 ways to protect your idea, each way cost $30 or less. Through extensive research I have gathered these tips to make inventing accessible to all. If you are ready lets get this show on the road.
Certified Letter
What is the trick?
This is a little bit lesser known than the other four methods, but it does help to add to the preponderance of the evidence. The idea behind this is quite simple. First, you take a few
sheets of paper, and using a pen you completely describe your idea, and provide drawings depicting it. Second, show your writings to two people who you have sign a non-disclosure.
Have the two people sign and date the papers showing that they have viewed it. Third, take the papers place them in an envelope and mail them to yourself by certified mail. Do not open the letter once you receive it, just place it in a secure location. That is it. I know you are wondering why do this. The reason is the certified letter will be post dated by the US Post Office which can be used to help show a date of conception. This method is not fool proof but it will add to the protection you are gathering for your idea. In no way is this sufficient by itself, but combined with the other four methods it can be secure.
Did you know?
Did you know that the certified letter trick is one of the oldest and most affordable ways to help protect your idea?
Your Cost:
Lets break it down.
• 2 pieces of paper = $.25
• 1 Envelope = $.25
• 1 Certified letter certificate = $5.00
A total cost of $5.50. Remember to be effective you must not open the envelope.
Protection:
This method provides the least amount of protection for your invention. But with a cost of only $5.50 why not do it? What do you have to lose, and it adds to the building amount of evidence that it is your idea. A self mailed certified letter alone is not sufficient protection for your idea, but combine that with the other four methods mentioned in this book and your idea will be more secure.
Copyright
What is a Copyright:
According to the U.S. Copyright office a copyright is a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States (title 17, U.S. Code) to the authors of “original works of authorship,” including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual works. This protection is available to both published and unpublished works. Section 106 of the 1976 Copyright Act generally gives the owner of copyright the exclusive right to do and to authorize others to do the following:
• To reproduce the work in copies or phonorecords;
• To prepare derivative works based upon the work;
• To distribute copies or phonorecords of the work to the public by sale or other transfer of ownership, or by rental, lease, or lending;
• To perform the work publicly, in the case of literary, musical, dramatic, and choreographic works, pantomimes, and motion pictures and other audiovisual works;
• To display the copyrighted work publicly, in the case of literary, musical, dramatic, and horeographic works, pantomimes, and pictorial, graphic, or sculptural works, including the individual images of a motion picture or other audiovisual work; and
• In the case of sound recordings, to perform the work publicly by means of a digital audio transmission.
Did you know?
Did you know that your written work is automatically copyrighted once it is composed? Every time you put pen to paper you are creating a copyrighted work.
Your Cost:
Although a unregistered copyright is free, we do recommend filling your copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office. This will formalize your copyright and help to notify others that it is your work. The cost to file form TX is $30.
Protection:
While a copyright was not intended to protect ideas, it does help protect the literary aspect of you invention, such as the description and the drawings. On all work that you produce relating to your invention add the © to it. This will notify others that you are claiming copyright status, and will help to divert any would be intellectual thieves. A copyright alone is not sufficient protection for inventors, but combine that with the other four methods mentioned in this book and your idea
will be more secure.
Disclosure Document
What is a disclosure document?
This program is offered by the U.S. Patent and Trademark office is very similar to the certified letter. The main difference is that instead of you keeping the record yourself, you file it with the government. They will issue an official date when they receive the information. They will not make any other claims other than issuing a date that they received your information. This is not a patent application date. This formalizes the issuing of a date and is more enforceable than the certified letter. According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark office a disclosure document is a paper disclosing an invention (called a Disclosure Document) and signed by the inventor or inventors that may be forwarded to the USPTO by the inventor (or by any one of the inventors when there are joint inventors), by the owner of the invention, or by the attorney or agent of the inventor’s) or owner. The Disclosure Document will be retained for two years, and then be destroyed unless it is referred to in a separate letter in a related patent application filed within those two years.
Did you know?
Did you know that the disclosure document last for a period of two years. Remember it is not a patent filing date.
Your Cost:
This is one of the most affordable methods of protection available, thanks to Uncle Sam. The fee for filling a disclosure with the U.S. Government is only $10.
Protection:
The disclosure document helps establish a date of conception for your idea, as due the certified letter, and nondeleting software. Taken by itself it is not sufficient protection for your idea, but combine it with the other four methods mentioned in this book and your idea will be more secure.
Non Deleting Software
What is non deleting software?
Exactly what the title says it is, software you can not delete, alter, or manipulate in anyway. Whatever you enter into it stays put. Essentially this allows you to record your ideas as they come to you in chronological order with out being able to manipulate the information. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Offices states that a non deleting software must have the following features.
1. non-deletion
2. sequential page numbering
3. witnessing
4. time stamping.
Did you know?
Did you know that by Using the software you can keep an irrefutable trail of your invention. Where you have employees or contractors working on your most prized intellectual assets, managing your ideas through the software will allow you to ensure that the IP stay within your company.
Your Cost:
$30-$500 depending on the software.
Protection:
Non deleting software provides a paper trail in a sense. Since you can not alter pages once they are entered it allows the idea to be traced back to the first entry date. It also shows how your thoughts progressed, like a diary that can not be tampered with. Taken by itself it is not sufficient protection for your idea, but combine that with the other four methods mentioned in this book and your idea will be more secure.
Non-Disclosure Document
What is a Non-disclosure:
Whether your new to inventing, or have been doing your protection homework you have probably heard of a nondisclosure document. In its purest sense a non-disclosure document is nothing more than a legal document that says you can’t share what I tell you and I can’t share what you tell me. It’s that simple. Of course there is more to it, but that is the essential foundation behind the document. Most good non-disclosures have a clause stating the length of time that the parties must remain silent, usually 18 months on average.
Did you know?
Did you know that a non-disclosure is the simplest way to protect yourself from infringement. However a non-disclosure document must be signed by every individual you present
your idea to.
Your Cost:
You can easily find non disclosure documents online for free, and if you prefer you can have an attorney create one for you for around $500-$1000.
Protection:
Using a non-disclosure will tell the people you are dealing with that you are serious, and that you know what you are doing. This will go a long way in fending off unwanted infringement. A non-disclosure document is a legally binding contract that is enforceable in a court of law. If a person or a company violates the condition of the document, you may be able to sue for damages. A non-disclosure document alone is not sufficient protection for inventors, but combined with the
other four methods mentioned in this book and your idea will be more secure.