Top Tips and Traps for the Inventor - LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=175 BGCOLOR="#A6CAF0" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="21"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="21"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HOME PAGE LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN"><U><B><IMG SRC="00d0d1d0.gif" border=0 width="13" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> <B>© </B>2001 Elias M. Gordan</div> <div> All rights reserved</div> <bR> <div> <B>Law Office of</B></div> <div> <B>Elias M. Gordan</B></div> <div> Post Office Box 60</div> <div> Palos Park, IL  60464</div> <bR> <div> Phone  708.923.9735</div> <div> Email  gordanlaw@att.net</div> <div> Web    www.gordanlaw.com</div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HOME PAGE LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN"><U><B>HOME</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN About Us"><U><B>About Us</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN Contact U"><U><B>Contact Us</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> TIPS AND TRAPS FOR THE INVENTOR</B></div> <div> <B>Elias M. Gordan, PE, Attorney at Law (IL, IN, US Patent/TM Office)</B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Law Office of Elias M. Gordan, Palos Park, IL, </B></FONT><A HREF="http://www.gordanlaw.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.gordanlaw.com"><U><B><U>www.gord</U></B></U></A><B><U>anlaw.com</U></B></div> <bR> <div>         Contractors and tradespeople, as a rule, are very adaptive and inventive.  The day-to-day challenges and problems, and the ever-present pressure to get the work done, create the necessity that is the mother of invention.  Even if you are not a contractor or tradesperson, you may, too, be inventive.</div> <div>         All too often, however, the invention is made, and put aside until next time.  Too few inventors think of developing their invention, or of securing potentially valuable rights in the end-product of their labors.  “Invention” can include an adaptation of a product or process, or a completely new product/process.</div> <div>         How, then, does one develop and protect their invention?  Here are some tips and traps:</div> <bR> <div> <B>1)  Document your efforts at developing your invention, in a hardbound, numbered notebook or lab book (available at many bookstores).</B>  You need to be able to independently prove that you “conceived” your idea, and “reduced it to practice”, in the form of a written description.  The written description has to enable someone with expertise in your field, to make and use your product.  A working model is nice, but not essential.  The description, however, is critical.  Every time you work on your device, note it in your book, with dates.  Have one or more impartial third parties witness your work and your notebook entries, and sign their names.  Act as if your product will be successful someday, and that you will have to prove your invention to a court.</div> <bR> <div> <B>2)  Do not be ashamed by trial and error.</B>   The U.S. patent system is unique among industrial nations, since it rewards the first to invent, <U>not</U> the first to file a patent application.  If you can prove that you diligently worked to create a working model or written description from your idea (“diligently reduced to practice”), you can beat out an inventor that thought of the idea later than you did, even if the other inventor filed its application first.  Again, your documentation will be critical to your success.</div> <bR> <div> <B>3)  Give proper credit.</B>  Only the true inventor of a device can obtain a patent for it.  If you have any doubts or questions as to who the inventor should be, consult with a patent attorney.  While a patent is granted in the name of the inventor, the rights can be “assigned”, or transferred by agreement, to another party, such as an employer.  Employers commonly obtain assignment of rights by their employees, though State law (such as  <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#3366FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.legis.state.il.us/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=2238&ChapAct=765" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.legis.state.il.us/legislation"><U><U>765 ILCS 1060/      Employee Patent Act.</U></U></A></FONT> )and collective bargaining agreements can affect these rights.  Even without an assignment agreement, an employer can have a royalty-free “shop right” to practice the invention, particularly if the employee uses company resources and time to develop the invention.</div> <bR> <div> <B>4)  Keep it under your hat.</B>  Do not discuss your invention with anybody unless absolutely necessary.  You probably have trade secret protection under State law (such as the Illinois Trade Secrets Act,  <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#3366FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.legis.state.il.us/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=2239&ChapAct=765" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.legis.state.il.us/legislation"><U><U>765 ILCS 1065/      Illinois Trade Secrets Act.</U></U></A></FONT> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" > or <A HREF="http://www.state.in.us/legislative/ic/code/title24/ar2/ch3.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.state.in.us/legislative/ic/co"><U>Indiana Trade Secrets Act</U></A> </FONT>), even if you do not have a patent, but you can lose trade secret protection if you publicize your “secret”.  For “belt and suspenders” protection, you can use contractual “non-disclosure agreements” to keep your invention confidential.</div> <bR> <div> <B>5)  Do not try to publicize or commercialize your invention, until you have filed a patent application.</B>  Activities that could, in any way, be considered a “sale”, an “offer to sell”, or other commercial activity, can prevent you from getting patent rights in some countries, and WILL kill your chances at getting a U.S. patent, if you wait more than one year to file an application.  The dividing line between an “experimental” activity and a “commercial” activity is often unclear, even to courts.  Similarly, determining critical dates can also be unclear, even to courts.  Be safe, and get your rights first.</div> <bR> <div> <B>6)  Do a patent search.</B>  If you want a patent for your invention, you have to show the Patent Office that it is new, useful, and not obvious in light of the technology.  To do this, you need to know what others have done in the area of your invention.  A patent search, consisting of previous patents and/or literature, and a patent attorney's interpretation of their effect, will help you in figuring just what part of your invention is “new, useful, and unobvious”.  Even if you know the field, others may know more.  You, too, need to know what the others know.</div> <bR> <div> <B>7)  Consider other types of protection, </B>such as design patents (for nonfunctional shapes), trademarks, trade dress (for nonfunctional designs), copyrights, trade secrets, and Internet names.  Often, you may have more than one way to protect your invention.  <B>For more information,</B> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id59.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Basic Facts on Intellectual Property LA"><U><B>click here</B></U></A> </FONT>.<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><B>For useful links, </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN IP Links"><U><B>click here</B></U></A></FONT><B> .</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>8)   Talk to a patent attorney early in the process.</B>  Yes, it will cost some money, but if successful, the money invested will pay off in a valuable patent.  Patent attorneys are typically organized by backgrounds (mechanical, chemical, biological, electrical) - a little inquiry should help you find someone with the right fit, who will speak your language.  Patent attorneys can also help with figuring available non-patent protections.</div> <bR> <div> <B>9)   A patent does not translate into instant riches.</B>  Even if you clear the patenting process, and get your patent, you still have to put it to profitable use.  A patent gives you the right to exclude others from making, using, or selling your device in the United States.  Contrary to popular belief, a patent does not necessarily grant a monopoly, since it is possible for a patented product or process to infringe (violate) a previous patent.  You can use a patent “in-house”, to give you an advantage over your competition, or you can license it to others.  Your success will depend on the marketplace, and on the perceived value of your invention.  Fortunately, there are governmental and private resources, in addition to legal assistance, that can help you with commercializing your invention.  It will be very hard work, but it can pay off.</div> <bR> <div> <B>10)   Prepare for a long haul.</B>  Have no doubt, the invention-development process is a slow, and at times maddening process.  Four main hurdles face the inventor: the development of the invention; the obtaining of a patent, perhaps in a foreign country, as well as the U.S.; the commercialization of the invention; and the fending-off of copycats, if the patent issues and the product or process succeeds.  Each hurdle can take years, and thousands of dollars, to overcome.  But be assured, many have faced these hurdles, and many have overcome these hurdles, even making a little (or a lot) of money along the way.  What are you waiting for?  If you have any questions, <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN Contact U"><U><B>contact us</B></U></A><B> </B></FONT>.<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>For more useful information,</B> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id59.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Basic Facts on Intellectual Property LA"><U><B>click here</B></U></A> </FONT>.<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>For useful links, </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN IP Links"><U><B>click here</B></U></A></FONT><B> .</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> DISCLAIMER:  For general information only.  Not to be considered legal advice.  No attorney-client relationship is intended to be created here.  Your mileage (or situation) may vary, depending on the actual facts of your case</div> <bR> <div> <I>Elias M. Gordan is a Chicago-area attorney serving Illinois and Indiana clients in patent law, construction law, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, and commercial litigation.  He has over 20 years experience in the heavy/highway construction industry, first as a construction engineer for a major DOT, then as an attorney.  He is a member of the Illinois, Indiana, and Patent Bars.  His most recent U.S. patent, Patent 6,651,967, was granted for a pipefitting device on 25 November 2003.</I></div> <bR> <div> To view our Patent, click</div> <div> <A HREF="http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=6,651,967.WKU.&OS=PN/6,651,967&RS=PN/6,651,967" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parse"><U><U>http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=6,651,967.WKU.&OS=PN/6,651,967&RS=PN/6,651,967</U></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Prepared by and ©2003 Attorney Elias M. Gordan, Palos Park, IL</div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.gordanlaw.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.gordanlaw.com"><U><U>www.gordanlaw.com</U></U></A><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >, 708.923.9735</FONT></div> <div> All rights reserved.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HOME PAGE LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN"><U><B>BACK TO HOME PAGE</B></U></A></div> <div>         </div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>