[Ferro List] Patents - off-topic

[Uwe Brunjes]

Hi guys,

Being that the list is a little "slow" lately, I thought I might as well post something off-topic, though most likely not “off-interest”. - If this is a repeat, I didn't receive it yesterday.

Anyway, I’ve heard so much stuff about the inconvenience of patenting inventions – and from very serious and informed persons – that I just have to ask what you think about this matter. The better you are informed, the more interesting your opinion will be.

What I heard _against_ patenting was mostly:
- The fees are too high
- Lawyers are even more expensive
- As you have to describe the _whole_ invention, you basically give away your work
- Now it becomes food for thought for others
- Slick corporate lawyers can basically shred it and flush it down the toilet
- Many times they are not even interested right now (vested interests, money tied up), so they have no problem waiting 20 years until the patent expires
- So you have no guarantee that somebody will want to buy your patent
- The government can take it away from you under the pretext of national security/interest
- The patent office doesn’t provide any help at all; you have to defend yourself
- etc.

Now, putting your invention in the public domain seems to have these advantages:
- You decide how much you publish; you keep the decisive secrets
- Nobody can patent it
- Nobody can take you ideas away – not even the government
- You can still make money with it – after all, you are the guru who invented it
- A catchy trademark and good marketing often sell better than a patent
- Trade secrets can be very effective and even better than patents – just have a look at Coca Cola; they kept their trade secret for 120 years, while a patent only lasts 20 (a factor of six!)
- You can still make good money - writing books, burning DVDs, selling hard-to-find parts or ingredients, kits with instructions, or even the complete gadget.
- Others can do the same, but they don’t have your fame, plus they don’t know what you are holding back. Those details are not always evident and can make a whole difference!

That’s all I can remember right now, and I would love to hear informed critique and amendments.

Uwe