Re: Questions on Patents?
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Posted by M. Arthur Auslander on March 13, 2000 at 04:34:32:
In Reply to: Questions on Patents? posted by Harley D. on March 11, 2000 at 14:23:27:
: I want to reserve the rights to an interactive website idea. What is my first step? Do I have to go through a patent lawyer? Do you think it's a good idea to involve investors before I have reserved the rights to this idea? Do I have to get a patent to sell my idea? You have been responding to everyone by telling them to start with a "reality check", what does that mean?
: Do I have to give you my idea for this reality check? PLEASE HELP? Thanks, : Harley D.
It is not impossible to get patents on business systems. The Reality Check is mostly for Patents. It is easy to get scammed or even get a useless patent with a legitimate patent lawyer.
For what you want, there might be a patent involved. I suggest that you get legal advice that you can trust in any event. It is adviseable that you know how to protect yourself, the idea and how to best go about getting investors with a minimum of risk of being frustrated in your purpose of being taken advantage of. Just selling ideas is very difficult and or risky if the idea is of any value. As far as "giving" me your idea for a Reality Check is concerned, if you went to a doctor you would not make the doctor guess what your symptoms are.
A disclosure to a lawyer is in confidence. If that confidence is broken, the lawyer is is big trouble. I have never heard of a lawyer stealing a clients disclosure.
There can be big trouble involving investors unless you are fully aware of risks and rights.
It might be well for you to give me a call to get a better idea of what your are up against. There will be fair warning before I charge a fee.
I can't stay in business without having a cash flow even though I enjoy helping people.
M. Arthur Auslander
Auslander & Thomas-Intellectual Property Law Since 1909
505 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10018
212-594-6900, fax 212-244-0028, aus@auslander.com
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