Q: I think I have an idea for a product that is not available to the market but know little about how to take it forward. I presume a patent is the first step, but need some advice.
Nov 15 2010
Answered by: Simon Mosey Ask a question
This is a common issue for budding entrepreneurs. The good news is that there is a lot you can learn without giving away your idea or spending too much money.
I would suggest that the first step would be to establish whether your idea really is novel. There is a wealth of information on the web, and through the magic of Google you can learn a great deal about the likely market for your product and how it compares to the competition without having to pay for it. However, the decision whether to file for a patent is more complex. I would initially suggest going to the UK patent office website where there is plenty of helpful information.
To be able to gain a patent you will need to establish that your idea is novel and non obvious. If, after researching it in this way, you think you have got a patentable invention then the next step would be to seek professional advice. Most patent attorneys offer an initial free of charge consultation and they are bound by client confidentiality so they will not disclose your idea. Be careful when discussing your idea with other professionals though. As a rule of thumb talk about what your invention does but be careful not to explain how it does it when seeking advice from a non confidential source.
Finally, regarding the British Standard, you will probably need to conduct some safety or regulatory testing before you can sell your product. However, this is not a pressing concern at the early stages. You first need to develop a working prototype to demonstrate that your product can be made and that it is significantly better than existing products. Here is where the costs start to escalate.
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