Patenting an idea VS submitting it to auto manufactures

[Infinitiguy19]

I have an idea that I am fairly confident no one has implemented or even throught of yet. The problem is the prices are pretty steep to patent idea's. So how can I go about submiting the idea (without looking like a fool in the process) to Nissan (or who ever pays the most )?

By The Way, where is Maxnix?

[djwarner]

To be honest, I don't think Nissan would even give you an audience. They might be working on something even remotely similar and would lay themselves up for a lawsuit if they turned you down and later introduced their invention.

Patents come in a variety of forms. Most common are "design" patents and "utility" patents. Design patents are closer to copyright than what we refer to as a patent. It is very narrow in scope and can be easily circumvented.

Utility patents are what we normally think of when it comes to an invention. Preparing for a utility patent requires research - what is current practice, who else has a similar patent, why your idea is different, what does your idea do that is unique. Then, someone skilled in the art of writing patent applications has to come up with all the claims you wish to protect, and finally there is a very specific form used for the artwork. All reasons why it's costly to obtain a patent.

Next thought, a patent is no guarantee of success. There are many patents out there that protect ideas that never make it to market, or if taken to market are commercial failures.

Like any other gamble, you have to figure the odds of making it all the way to commercial introduction and multiply that by the chances of it being a commercial success and multiplying that by the expected financial rewards if it succeeds. ie Chance of making it to commercial introduction = 10%. Chance of it being a commercial success 5%. Rewards if it is a cammercial success = $1,000,000. 10%*5%*$1,000,000 = $5,000. If the cost of patenting and bringing to market exceeds $5,000, you'll likely be spitting into the wind to proceed. This is the kind of analysis businesses go through for their internally developed ideas.

That being said, many amateurs not knowing the odds have plunged head long into such projects and became great successes. But most just fail.

If you PM me, I can give you some basic questions to ask yourself, or maybe even give you some answers to the questions you might come up with. ie Would the product require it be sold in OEM market or could it be sold to the aftermarket?

I have my name on seven patents, so I've been there, done that and bought the T-shirt.

[S133P3R]

Sorry, I thought was nala's thread. K thanks bye.

[Skibane]

I make my living by inventing, manufacturing and selling products. I have one patent, but would not consider getting another one unless the idea was almost certain to generate a huge amount of money in sales, royalties or license fees. Otherwise, the benefits of having a patent just aren't worth the effort spent in securing it.

Suggested reading: Don Lancaster's The Case Against Patents