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Patents

Information about securing and posting patents

Most patentable items and methods are not patented. Currently, there are over seven million U.S. patents, but there are hundreds of millions of items for sale or methods used in the U.S. that do not have patent protection. This dichotomy is surprising since a patent gives its owner a business monopoly and a patent pending can be readily licensed for considerable compensation. The only explanation for this is the general lack of knowledge about the commercial use of patents by the general public.

Any article, device, apparatus, method, material, software, chemical composition or method, electrical circuit, Internet based procedure, business related method or article design can be patented if it’s useful and has at least one novel feature that isn’t obvious. Most patents are awarded for mere improvements rather than for an entirely whole new thing.

A patent can protect the decorative aspects of the appearance of a useful article. A nail with a decorative head is an example of an article that can be protected by a Design Patent. In submitting this type of patent application, a drawing of the nail is provided. But it is the nail itself and not the drawing of the nail that is protected by the issued Design patent. This marks the difference between an artwork (the drawing of the nail) which is protected by copyright law, and the actual nail, protected by the Design patent.

The most common type of patent is called a Utility patent. It protects all useful aspects of inventions but not their design features. For instance, the decorative nail can’t be protected by a Utility patent because its usefulness aspects are already well known.

New products or methods are the life-blood of all commercial enterprises. Most companies actively seek patented or patent pending inventions for purchase or license. However, licensing the rights to a pending patent is the most common form of commercial exchange providing the inventor with a stream of revenue income.

Clearly, MyIPdeal.com is a valuable marketplace for dealing in patents and patent pendings, providing the broadest exposure with relatively little effort on the part of the inventor/owner or the potential buyer/licensee.

Inventions

Information about posting inventions

Inventions are not intellectual properties and are therefore not able to be sold or licensed. Patent applications and issued patents are.

An invention is any new idea for a product or method, or an improvement of an existing product or method. To be considered an invention, the new idea must have some aspect of novelty, it must be useful, and it must not be obvious to those having knowledge and skill in the field in which the invention might be used. Obvious things are considered to be merely the creative selection or combining of things or aspects of things that are already well known. Works of art are not considered to be inventions because they are primarily used by the intellect rather than in a practical sense. Inventions do things, they produce results. Lying somewhere between works of art and inventions are designs that are applied to practical devices or articles. For instance a wallpaper pattern or a nail with a decorative head are each protectable by a Design patent, so we must consider them inventions. But, clearly they are also works of the creative arts, so there is some crossover between art and invention.

Inventions can be protected by Design and Utility patents. Once a patent application has been filed, the application, and later the issued patent document, are considered business assets and are therefore able to be sold or licensed. Such commercial transactions can command significant compensation to the inventor. Please realize that there is no market for unprotected inventions. It is the legal protection of the invention, and not the invention itself, that forms the basis for a business transaction.

Clearly, MyIPdeal.com is a valuable marketplace for dealing in protected inventions of all kinds and types; providing the broadest exposure with relatively little effort on the part of the inventor or the potential buyer/licensee.

Concepts

Information about posting concepts

Concepts may or may not have value. For instance, a concept for a television or movie screen play, or for a novel or a song, or for a product may be worth a great deal when it has been developed into a finished work or product and is protected by an appropriate form of intellectual property. However, until it has been protected, a concept is not likely to fetch a price in the marketplace and when the concept is divulged to others without protection; it often gets “borrowed.”

A concept for a new product or method can be protected by a patent application without building a prototype or even working out every detail. After filing a patent application, this intellectual property may be licensed to a company, often for considerable compensation. Companies seek important new ideas and are eager to have exclusive rights to the intellectual properties that protect them.

Clearly, MyIPdeal.com is a valuable marketplace for dealing in protected concepts of all kinds and types; providing the broadest commercial exposure with relatively little effort on the part of the concept creator or the potential buyer/licensee.

Processes

Information about posting processes

In the last few years the number of patent applications for processes or methods has grown faster than any other kind of application. Banking, insurance and other service industries have filed thousands of patent applications to protect their methods of doing business. We are now aware that millions of methods, from baking a cake to transferring information through the Internet are protectable, and have significant commercial value as intellectual properties. Software programs that once were protected only thinly by the copyright laws are now routinely filed, and more comprehensively protected by method claims in Utility patents.

Manufacturing methods, marketing methods, design methods, sales methods, organizing methods and many other categories of methodology are being patented instead of being held as trade secrets as was the practice just a few years ago. The licensing of method patent applications is now big business.

Clearly, MyIPdeal.com is a valuable marketplace for dealing in protected methods of all kinds; providing the broadest exposure with relatively little effort on the part of the inventor/owner and the potential buyer/licensee.

Businesses

Information about posting businesses

Every business tries to grow by gaining market share and excluding competition. To do these things, a business attempts to distinguish itself and its products/services. It tries to promote its name and image through the use of trade dress, trademarks and slogans, advertising, and, of course, offering value and distinctive, distinguishing output. It tries to exclude competitors by offering a better deal, moving into markets or market niches where competitors are absent or have a hard time competing, and through the use of copyright and patent protection. Every business has the opportunity to build a portfolio of intellectual properties; and this may include Design and Utility patents, trademarks, copyrightable works, and trade secrets. Products/services, as well as methods of marketing, manufacturing, designing, sales, etc. may be protected and such protections become valuable business assets adding to the net worth or owners equity on the firm’s balance sheet. Since the ability to borrow operating capital is strongly based on a firm’s net worth, its intellectual property portfolio can play an important role in the company’s growth.

Clearly, MyIPdeal.com is a valuable marketplace for dealing in intellectual properties of all kinds and types; providing the broadest exposure with relatively little effort on the part of the intellectual property owner and those seeking to own or license.

Trademarks

Information about posting trademarks

Trademarks are used to distinguish commercially offered products and services from those of competitors. Such marks may comprise words, images or both. They may be strong or weak, comprehensive or not, and registered or common-law.

A strong mark is one that cannot be disputed by others, as compared to a weak mark which might be disputed and eventually lost. For instance both “cellophane” and “escalator” are marks that were lost due to inappropriate use. “Xerox®” and “Kleenex®” are marks that have come close to being lost. Marks may also be weak because they describe the product or service that they represent. A comprehensive mark is one that is easily remembered for its appearance, what it stands for, or its public image. A registered mark is recorded by the Patent & Trademark Office giving its owner certain legal rights; while a common-law mark is one that is not recorded but still has acquired rights in ownership by being first in use and meeting other qualifications.

Marks (trademarks & service marks) that are in use are typically not available for sale or licensing. However, there are marks, both registered and not, which are available for purchase or licensing. Such marks may relate to a discontinued product line, or a company that is no longer active. As an example, the mark “JFK” was registered in class 39 for use on clothing, but is now abandoned, yet, the prior owner can reactivate the mark within a specified period of time after abandonment if a buyer/licensee approaches. Also, instead of abandoning a mark that is no longer useful, its owner may use it as a source of income by selling or licensing it. Companies looking for a great mark or logo often pay handsomely for the creation of a new logo, yet overlook the opportunity to acquire an great existing mark that is not in use, or is abandoned by another who would be eager to sell or license it.

Of course marks are extremely valuable in distinguishing goods and services in the marketplace. Another important use of marks is, for example, when XYZ, Inc., a company that sells cigars, registers the mark “XYZ” for its premium cigar line with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. XYZ, Inc. will most likely be able to stop others from using “XYZ” not only as a company name (trade name), or as a product or service name (trademark), but also as a URL, “XYZ.com.”

Clearly, MyIPdeal.com is a valuable marketplace for dealing in marks; providing the broadest exposure with relatively little effort on the part of the owner or the potential buyer/licensee.

Artwork

Information about posting artwork

Artworks include graphic art, Internet pages, fine art, commercial art, advertisements, product illustration, photo-art, and similar works. The vast majority of existing works in this field are not registered with the United States Copyright Office. However, unregistered works are nonetheless protected under U.S. copyright laws. See “How to Assure Ownership under U.S. Copyright Law” on this web-site.

Commercial artists and Internet page creators advertise their skills and engage in production contracts with buyers. Fine art artists find buyers through exhibitions, galleries and fine art fairs.

Graphic art produced by serious amateurs is usually displayed at local art fairs, swap meets, in malls, on the Internet, and even on street corners and in parks. However, many millions of works of art, some having significant value, are never seen by the general public and never have an opportunity to be traded for compensation.

Clearly, MyIPdeal.com is a valuable marketplace for dealing in artwork of all kinds and types; providing the broadest exposure with relatively little effort on the part of the artist or the potential buyer.

Poems

Information about posting poems

Poems have commercial value for use in songs, jingles, children’s books and games, general education, especially of the young, and as collections for the serious adult reader. There is a strong demand for lyric writers for songs and commercials. However, where does one go to sell the output of their poetic skills or to sell their services?

The vast majority of existing works in this field are not registered with the United States Copyright Office. However, unregistered works are nonetheless protected under U.S. copyright laws. See “How to Assure Ownership under U.S. Copyright Law” on this web-site.

Poems and collections of poems produced by amateurs generally do not have a commercial outlet. Amateur poets usually write for the love of it, but often do not think of selling their works. However, many poetic works of art have significant value and should be given the opportunity to be traded for compensation. Furthermore, if a viable marketplace for poetic works were to exist, many would-be poets would become active.

Clearly, MyIPdeal.com is a valuable marketplace for dealing in poetic works of all kinds and types; providing the broadest exposure with relatively little effort on the part of the writer or the interested buyer.

Stories

Information about posting stories

Stories have commercial value; just visit your local book store to see for yourself. Written works: news writings, newsletters, blogs, technical papers, editorials, short stories, screenplays, novels and non-fictional works, are all in every increasing demand. The information age demands a constant flow of written material which may end up as a: song, live presentation, training or instructional video, television presentation, screenplay or in a form suitable for the reader. Professional writers abound and offer their literary skills to the highest bidder.

The amazing popularity of the instant Internet blog shows that almost everyone has something to say. The professional and serious amateur writers trade their writing skills for compensation. A truly vast number of written works lie dormant in drawers or files having never found a commercial marketplace to be offered to those who might be interested or in need.

The vast majority of dormant works in the literary arts are not registered with the United States Copyright Office. However, unregistered works are nonetheless protected under U.S. copyright laws. See “How to Assure Ownership under U.S. Copyright Law” on this web-site.

Clearly, MyIPdeal.com is a valuable marketplace for dealing in literary works of all kinds and types; providing the broadest exposure with relatively little effort on the part of the writer or the interested buyer.

Music

Information about posting music

Music has great commercial value. Everyone loves instrumental, vocal, ensemble, band, folk, chorale, chamber or symphonic music and is willing to pay for it as Internet downloads, live concerts, on commercial radio and television, and subscriptions to XM or Sirius broadcasting to name a few sources. Who creates music? Tens of millions of average people do on their pianos and guitars, whistling a tune, humming and singing. Who receives compensation for creating, playing or organizing music presentations? Relatively few, and the artists often receive only a small portion of the total revenue derived by sales to the general public.

The professional and serious amateur song writer, lyricist, score creator, etc. trade their creative skills for compensation. But, a truly vast number of such works lie dormant in drawers or files having never found a commercial marketplace; a way to be offered for compensation.

The great majority of musical and related works are not registered with the United States Copyright Office. However, unregistered works are nonetheless protected under U.S. copyright laws. See “How to Assure Ownership under U.S. Copyright Law” on this web-site.

Clearly, MyIPdeal.com is a valuable marketplace for dealing in literary works of all kinds and types; providing the broadest exposure with relatively little effort on the part of the creator or the interested buyer.

Video

Information about posting video

Videos have commercial value. Professionals and amateurs offer their works for entertainment as short subjects and even full-length productions, often being shown at film festivals to the delight of viewers who eagerly pay to see them. Video services are offered for training and educational purposes. Videos and segments often end up in television commercials, news casts, and in human interest presentations.

The serious professional and amateur video maker trades their creative skills for compensation. But, a truly vast number of such works lie dormant in drawers or files having never found a commercial marketplace; a way to be offered for compensation.

The majority of video and related works are not registered with the United States Copyright Office. However, unregistered works are nonetheless protected under U.S. copyright laws. See “How to Assure Ownership under U.S. Copyright Law” on this web-site.

Clearly, MyIPdeal.com is a valuable marketplace for dealing in video works of all kinds and types; providing the broadest exposure with relatively little effort on the part of the creator or the interested buyer.