What Are The Costs Of Patenting Something?

[SY]

Without a few million bucks in hand, you can forget about enforcement anywhere.

[kelticwizard]

One the cost of enforcement, I imagine one strategy is that if the idea is a worthy one, you can sell the patent to a large company which then has the wherewithal to go after the pirates.

Of course, the patent would have to give the large company an advantage in the market to make it worth their while to spend the half million or so to enforce it.

In the case of loudspeaker enclosures, an enclosure type which gives any given loudspeaker the ability to pump out half an octave of bass, or go up 6 dB in sensitivity, in the same size box, (essentially the same thing), would likely be worth a million or so to defend the product.

Imagine Electrovoice or JBL coming out with a line of PA cabs which have the same cutoff slope, same F3, and same sensitivity only in a box half the size of the competition. Imagine the advantage they would have in the market if they can sell a 3 cu ft cabinet which plays equal to the competition's 6 cu ft cabinet. What band wouldn't buy the 3 cu ft cabinet instead of lugging around the 6 cu ft enclosure?

Yes, I do believe they would pay several million to defend that patent.

Whether they would pay several million to defend a patent on an enclosure which gave only nominal advantage over the competition is another matter.

I wonder how much money Robert Fris has made off the Daline? Hmmmm.....

[peranders]

Originally posted by SY
Without a few million bucks in hand, you can forget about enforcement anywhere.

Getting a patent isn't about millions, not in Sweden, but as you say when you want to claim your rights I'll gather it's then the money is needed.

[SY]

Originally posted by kelticwizard
One the cost of enforcement, I imagine one strategy is that if the idea is a worthy one, you can sell the patent to a large company which then has the wherewithal to go after the pirates.

The reality is (and I've got the scars to prove it) that it's MUCH more likely that the large company will (if they're ethical) refuse to look at it, and if they're not, say, "Gee, that's a nice idea!", and cheerfully rip it off, knowing that you don't have the millions you need to enforce it. With a home-made patent, it's even easier, because their lawyers will advise them how to get around your amateurish claims.

You've given two different motivations. If your friend wants to market the invention, he needs to spend the bucks for attorneys. If he wants a line on a resume, he shouldn't worry about trying to make money from it.

[DSP_Geek]

Originally posted by SY
BTW, does George Augsperger still write those wonderful patent reviews for JAES?

Don't know. He was the best part of reading JAES some months. I'd read the articles for main course and finish off with a dessert of Ausperger claim demolitions. He was fair, though: a good idea would get a fair shake and a decent review.

In a similar vein, look for Dick Pierce on usenet:rec.audio.tech. What he does to snake oil salesmen is a joy forever.


Francois.

[scott wurcer]

FWIW, usually getting yourself a patent is like buying jewlrey.