Simpson Posted June 2, 2007 Report Share Posted June 2, 2007 Basically i have a buisness plan which i would like to do soon. Its a product i have thought up which is to do with pet care, its going to be a special type of bed for animals and unlike anything on the market and think i can make a lot of money if i compose a sucessfull buisness plan so what i need to know it- how do i patent / copyright a design?- How so i copyright a company name?These are the main 2 questions i need answered... because if i can get european copyright on it, then i can start making mock ups and stuff before i get too into a plan which might actually exist already Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 2, 2007 Report Share Posted June 2, 2007 you don't really patent a product, more the idea, so it HAS to be completly original...http://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+obta...amp;startPage=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash-Kennard Posted June 2, 2007 Report Share Posted June 2, 2007 you googled it first? juuuuust incase... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simpson Posted June 2, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2007 (edited) you googled it first? juuuuust incase...Yep but i know people on here have obiosly had company names and unique products, and wondering what they did to ensure that legally there fine... Edited June 3, 2007 by Simpson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fixed Pants™ Posted June 2, 2007 Report Share Posted June 2, 2007 Probably advisable to see your local solicitors mr simpson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Nick Riviera Posted June 2, 2007 Report Share Posted June 2, 2007 and not posting it on an internet forum, might be a start Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish-Finger-er Posted June 2, 2007 Report Share Posted June 2, 2007 and not posting it on an internet forum, might be a start yea because right now, ive got a pretty big sum of money lieing round, and could invest in it, invent it and sell it now, because youve pretty much given ur whole game plan away.well i could do if it wasnt just past midnight on sunday morning, and i had some energy and was inclined to do such a thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plainlazy84 Posted June 2, 2007 Report Share Posted June 2, 2007 Take a look at the UK Intelectual Property Office for information on patents.In summary though...- typical patent takes 2-3 years to grant- The application fee is £200- The fees for hiring a patent agent to do the work could be around a £1,000- Fill out the patent application form found here and send it to Company House to apply- It will only cover you for the U.K. market. If you are planning on selling it abroad and need exclusivity then you have to get a separate patent for each country- It lasts for 20 years- Keep quiet about your idea... "It is important that you do not tell anyone about your invention before you apply to patent it, because this may make your patent invalid." Time to start editing your posts read this on registering a Business/ company name Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simpson Posted June 3, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 but do i need to patent a completly un-original idea? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ogre Posted June 3, 2007 Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 but do i need to patent a completly un-original idea?if no one else has, then yes esp if some other geeze thinks of it later, then it's *pow* lawsuite attack... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UrbanPoet Posted June 3, 2007 Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 but do i need to patent a completly un-original idea?How do you patent an idea that isn't original? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simpson Posted June 3, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 How do you patent an idea that isn't original?Well no-one else makes them, but its a bed...... im sure there are lots of beds currently on the market Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UrbanPoet Posted June 3, 2007 Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 Well no-one else makes them, but its a bed...... im sure there are lots of beds currently on the marketI see what you mean, but wouldn't the difference in your bed make the idea original? Anyways, I'm splitting hairs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simpson Posted June 3, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 I see what you mean, but wouldn't the difference in your bed make the idea original? Anyways, I'm splitting hairs yea of course.... but would i need a patent or anything like that to protect my product? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny Posted June 3, 2007 Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 Get yourself down your bank and see if you can get a meeting with a small business advisor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fixed Pants™ Posted June 3, 2007 Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 I remember from the controversy of denguras being copies of maguras, i think you have to specify why your idea is unique and which bits you can't copyright.Despite looking for about 10 mins, can't find the thread, or the link so feck it.There's a site somewhere which lists all patents, might have to look around there to see if your idea is already there.Ayone who knows the site, do feel free to link. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simpson Posted June 3, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 Get yourself down your bank and see if you can get a meeting with a small business advisor Oh awsome thanks sounds like exactly the thing i need to do! so they'll be able to help me with this kinda stuff? will i get taken seriously as a 17year old earning 300quid a month though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UrbanPoet Posted June 3, 2007 Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 yea of course.... but would i need a patent or anything like that to protect my product?A patent would be the best way to protect your product. However, you have to appreciate the costs in time and money of getting a patent, and whether you will actually get one. You have to be sure that there is nothing similar to your product and that it is totally new. You will definitely need a patent if your product/invention is truly revolutionary and if it's in a market were it is likely to be copied or emulated.Oh awesome thanks sounds like exactly the thing i need to do! so they'll be able to help me with this kinda stuff? will i get taken seriously as a 17year old earning 300quid a month though?You only really get a business adviser if you open a business account with them. As for being taken seriously, a rock-solid business plan is a must, make sure everything is clear and fully explored and that your projections are entirely correct/plausible. I opened my first business account when I was 18 and was really nervous I would be told to f**k right off, but the bank staff were really nice and after looking over my business plan they seemed happy.As long as you're confident and you know what you're talking about then you will be fine. Be as transparent as possible and be realistic, there's nothing worse than having your figures worked over and them realising that you've screwed up or that you've exaggerated. It may be harder for you to secure a business account and an adviser as all you really have is a product, or an idea for a product, as opposed to an idea for a business.Have a look at Startups.co.uk and Businesslink.gov.uk for more advice. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krisboats Posted June 3, 2007 Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 If its one of those pet beds with the built in food/water bowls then they're already out mate I thought it was possible to get a provisional patent on something so if you couldn't afford to patent it then you could do the provisional thing and contact companies about joint production on the thing and payment of the full patent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spode@thinkbikes Posted June 3, 2007 Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 Copyright is something you have straight away when you make something original. So that's not a problem.Trademarks mean **** all, you're just registering the phrase/name.Patent's are tricky, especially as it's very hard to buy them for every country. A UK patent just protects you in the UK.Often the best thing to do is just go ahead and do it, and don't worry about patenting. If a big company wants to use your idea, they WILL find a way. But being the first to market with a product and getting your name out first, can often be your saviour - even if the market is flooded with cheap alternatives. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 3, 2007 Report Share Posted June 3, 2007 Copyright is something you have straight away when you make something original. So that's not a problem.Trademarks mean **** all, you're just registering the phrase/name.Patent's are tricky, especially as it's very hard to buy them for every country. A UK patent just protects you in the UK.Often the best thing to do is just go ahead and do it, and don't worry about patenting. If a big company wants to use your idea, they WILL find a way. But being the first to market with a product and getting your name out first, can often be your saviour - even if the market is flooded with cheap alternatives.are you sure on that? you probobly know more than me about it but I really didn't think that's the case, and wikipedia certainley doesn't make it out that simple..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heatsink Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 You can't be sure to be able to patent any ideas you have. They key thing is that it "Not be obivous", and just because someone isn't selling a product like that on the market already, doesn't mean that you will immediately be able to protect the idea. If your idea is innovative enough, then it must also not have any "Prior art", which means if you can see that anyone has done anything like it before, there's no way you can patent it. In many cases certain products may not be sold because there is no percieved demand for this from consumer. However there have been many examples of the ideas-man knowing best and making a fortune, but of course a much much larger number of cases where it all came to nothing and just alot of uncompensated expenditure and time for the originators.If you did have a revolutionary idea, on which the ability to patent it was the means to unlock the door to a fortune, for an individual to follow this through with all the costs involved, is pretty hard work.You don't need to have a patent to be able to have a profitable product. For example, although there are lots of new ideas happening in bike components, there a precious few patents. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simpson Posted June 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 So just go do it regardless and hope no-one trys to undercut me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heatsink Posted June 4, 2007 Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 So just go do it regardless and hope no-one trys to undercut me?I'd take advice from close family (parents?) so the idea could be protected, whilst getting a reality check from someone not already caught up in it.If not patentable/not feasable to patent (I wouldn't consider patenting even if I did have a complete revolutionary component idea - just don't have the time or money to let this be as consuming as it would need to), ask yourself what you could offer that others can't. Maybe others can copy your design, but by then you would have say, established a reputation as a reliable seller/ already been first to market so had the lion's share of business. Can you get this product made to top quality at a price which others can't? Are you able to reach customers in ways others can't? Aside from having a great product, you'll need strength across the board to make it a success.Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simpson Posted June 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2007 Thanks so much Steve youv'e been a super help, I'll speak to my parents once ive finished my exams, but this is an idea I'd really have to drop out of school for, but really sure i could make it work just need to do a lot of market reaserch / contacting supplyers and stuff, awsome cheers man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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