CorporateLawFilter: Please recommend your best tips, tricks and reference materials for becoming the best paralegal-in-training possible. [more inside]
posted by lonefrontranger on Dec 17, 2008 - 10 answers

Sites for tracking new technologies, technology trends, and innovations? [more inside]
posted by brandnew on Sep 10, 2008 - 4 answers

Plant breeders' rights question - propagation and sale or plants, when in ignorance of the fact that the plant you're propagating and selling is a registered variety. [more inside]
posted by Jimbob on Jul 9, 2008 - 8 answers

A few years ago I saw a video where someone made a table saw technology where if the blade touches your skin it stops immediately and all you get is a knick on your finger. I was curious if this is being built into table saws yet? And if not why isn't it? [more inside]
posted by GregX3 on Jun 28, 2008 - 35 answers

I'm developing an e-commerce project with business processes that are truly unique and might be patentable. I understand there is serious debate about the benefit and/or validity of many patents in this field, but I think my idea stands up to the bullshit test, and I don't think protecting it would be anti-competitive.

So, should I launch and go about protecting the invention later, or should I hire a patent attorney right away? I've searched the patent databases myself and found nothing remotely similar. But I'm not an expert.
posted by subpixel on Dec 28, 2007 - 7 answers

What is a good (free or low-cost) program to mine text from large numbers of patents? [more inside]
posted by underdetermined on Jun 29, 2007 - 1 answer

Should our company utilize a patent attorney for filing patents? [more inside]
posted by tr45vbyt on Feb 1, 2007 - 10 answers

How do I protect myself from someone stealing my idea? [more inside]
posted by Izzmeister on May 7, 2006 - 25 answers

Are there any approved U.S. patents in which the patent application is itself an instantiation of the patented invention? [more inside]
posted by nobody on Nov 4, 2005 - 1 answer

if one had a what one would imagine to be a possibly great idea for a web based site/service ... where would one start in this post - post - .com era?
posted by specialk420 on Jul 5, 2005 - 4 answers

Portfolio Confidentiality

I'm applying for a job with an industrial design firm which requires a portfolio. Some of my best work is part of a project which is in the process of being patented (but has not been filed for yet), so I'm unsure how to handle it. It seems excessive and limiting (and maybe rude?) to ask for an NDA from a potential employer, but I don't feel completely comfortable sending this information out. Anyone have any suggestions or experience in this area?
posted by hugo on Nov 21, 2004 - 9 answers

The GIF patent finally expired (Woohoo!) which got me wondering: When does the mp3 patent expire? I couldn't get google to cough up the answer.
posted by gwint on Jul 22, 2004 - 15 answers

I've invented two toys. One is kid-friendly and easy to produce, and the other would require a plastic mold-injection process (so I can't possibly make a mock-up) but rave-kids would go nuts for it.

Obviously - I guess - I can't say what they are, since I'm afraid of people stealing my ideas. What do I do? Should I just email companies and tell them what my ideas are? Will they steal my ideas, or is it company policy to honor the inventor? [more inside]
posted by interrobang on Mar 30, 2004 - 12 answers