I can see why people are complaining about the system and the law. They expect far too much of a patent and far too much of the system, and - most worryingly - don't know what a patent is. The definition ... More

I am new to the site and see that some very wise people are resident. The more I read the more I am drawn to respond, and now I see a topic which runs through most threads - the seemingly meaningless (to ... More

My partner and I have developed a new product that is low tech but unique. We are in New Zealand and have applied for a New Zealand patent. We want to market our low cost product world wide. But are ... More

Hello inventors. A friend and I have sent and idea to 'InventHelp' who claim to be the biggest company of this type in the world. However they seem far too eager to get money out of us and I was just wondering ... More

I was reading (or trying to read) a judgment on the patent protection for the AnyWayUpCup and i couldn't really spend the time reading the judgment very carefully but i thought the gist of it was that ... More

I was just reading the post between Andy Sephton and Paul Cole.

If I picked up the gist of it the argument was that The Inventor Was A BusinessMan First And Foremost.

If He Was ... More

I am preparing to patent my ideas in the UK US Europe (and I suppose in Australia and the Far East).

Are there other territories which have adopted patent law where I ought to think about ... More

How would a unified Euro Patent help to lower the costs of patent protection?

... More

You recommend that inventors need to weigh up the chances of commercial success of their inventions before deciding to pursue patent protection. This may be difficult to do. as most inventors are emotionally ... More

Without inventors. we'd all still be at year zero. naked. shelterless. grubbing with our fingers and quite possibly wondering: "Is this all there is?" So: If the primary function of the patent system is ... More

You seem to imply that the problems in the application of the patent system lie with the users. rather than with the system itself. Do you think it is not worthwhile for 'the little guy' to have patents. ... More

The notion of IP insurance. specifically related to patents. is compelling for reasons including those set forth by many of the submitters in this conference. However. it may mask a more viral and insidious ... More

Carla Millar/Aard Groen

There are many reasons to seek to protect cultural capital. including intellectual property. through patents (and other ways of asserting exclusive rights. such as ... More

Ruth Soetendorp ﾖ Bournemouth University

Are Patents Worthwhile for Inventors? Yes. but only if they know about them first! UK and European government rhetoric extols the virtue of ... More

Richard Hodgson. Barrister IPR/Internet specialist

Patents are certainly worthwhile for an Inventor. but there are one or two important practical points that are often overlooked and could ... More

- Inventor

As a Civil/Structural Engineer. used to the ethics of the UK construction industry. which I believe are generally very high. I was surprised when I became an inventor to find ... More

John Horsted - Counsellor for Industrial Policy Project in the Danish Patent and Trademark Office. which forms part of the Danish Ministry for Economic and Business Affairs.

The Danish minister ... More

Nigel Stoate ﾖ Taylor Wessing

A strong. robust patent system must be supported and maintained across the world. A strong patent system provides the incentive for scientists and their ... More

Dr Puay Tang. Fellow. Sussex University

Aggressive patent enforcement is becoming more commonplace as technology companies seek to extract new income from their intellectual property amid ... More

Paul Cole ﾖ Patent Attorney/Partner. Lucas & Co

As a starting position. I think that the following points need to be made:

The primary purpose of the patent system is NOT ... More

Mandy Haberman ﾖ Inventor and IPR Campaigner

Intellectual property is an international business. recognised as one of the planks of the world trading system yet it often starts from ... More

Mark Sheahan. Inventor and member of the Institute of Patentees and Inventors.

Like myself. a large proportion of our IPI members are lone inventors and/or run SME's. We are at the sharp end ... More

Richard Gallafent ﾖ Patent Attorney/Trade Mark Agent

For many inventors the securing of a patent appears to be an end in itself. providing some sort of official recognition that they ... More

Peter Roedling ﾖ IP Manager Hiscox Insurance

Yes. it is worth having a patent as long as it is enforceable.. and provided the patent is worth more than the costs associated with supporting ... More

Sebastian Conran ﾖ Creative Director. Conran & Partners

The current patent protection system has outlived its current usefulness. There are three fundamental problems with it:

1) ... More

John Mitchell. MD. AllVoice Computing

My company has had its products copied worldwide whilst also preventing its sales. I resorted to patent infringement action in the US. the source of the ... More

Ian Lewis. Director. Miller

The simple answer to the question of whether patents are worthwile for an inventor is ﾓyesﾔ. However. as the present legal system requires the inventor ... More

Larry Cohen - Patent litigator and head of intellectual property for Europe of McDermott. Will & Emery. a firm which does both patent prosecution work and patent litigation on both sides of the Atlantic.

The ... More

Gill Smith ﾖ Head of IP. Dyson

Patents are worthwhile for an inventor because if a company cannot be reasonably sure that it has a weapon to use against a copyist then that company ... More

Joel Barry ﾖ Olswang (Patent Expert)

A patent gives to its inventor essentially a monopoly right to commercially exploit the invention and with it the right to prevent others from doing ... More