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[Billy]

Hi there,

I have a question about patents. Without giving away my invention, I'll use another example to illustrate:

For example, if you invented a car that doesn't run on wheels but on something else that is existing, like a jet engine or something, is this device patenable? (Combining two existing technology)

Or, like in the optical mouse example, if you invented the "optical mouse" but it does the same thing as the regular mouse, is that patenable? I realize there are more than one company making this type of mouse, so I wondered.

Thanks for any help.
A Poor Inventor.
Billy

[Billy]

Furthermore, if the "improvement" was based on something currently patented, how big an issue will it cause? (Its a massive improvement)?

Thanks.

[JSonnabend]

Most patents consist of improvements to existing technologies.  Very few are "pioneer" patents, such as the airplane.

You may receive a patent for a novel, non-obvious combination of existing technologies.

- Jeff