Question by beautifulnubian: Is there an inexpensive way to patten an idea?
At least to file for patten pending, to secure and submit to companies.

Best answer:

Answer by Randy W
Yes and no, this is a double edged sword. You can apply for a patten and the cost very relatively inexpensive, the majority of the expense come from the hours of looking though the patten records trying to find a patten that matches your or is close to your.
You can offset this expense by doing the the patten office research yourself, but we are talking possibly days or weeks of research in the patten records to determine that their are no matching pattens.
You may have to travel to Chicago or Denver, Washington D.C. or somewhere to a Patten record office but I guess this all depends on how much time you have to spend verses the actual cost of the patten attorney would charge you.
You will not even be able to use that Patten pending until the search is done and you have received a letter from the Patten office that it has been received and your patten is pending.
It is not a quick process unless you have something completely new, that no one could have ever designed before, and remember there are pattens in the patten office that do not exist on the open market for sale.
My suggestion to you is if you have a great idea, then you need to send them a Non-Disclosure agreement to sign, and make sure you are dealing with a reputable firm.
Best of Luck!

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