There are lots of opinions on patents, so my advice (as cynical as it sounds) is pick the answer you want - you'll find at least one matching opinion to support it.
FWIW - my opinion, aside from the issues / costs of IP protection (and the associated hassles of protecting it as you've pointed out), one very good reason for a patent if you are seeking investment is that you are much more likely to succeed in attracting investors if you do have a good patent. Patent or no patent, your business idea can be copied so I don't believe that's much of a reason - especially because it's probably a business process patent, not an "invention" as such? Hope this was some help. Tim On Mon, Mar 22, 2010 at 8:32 PM, Rich <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi, I wanted to get a range of opinions on the subject of patenting. > > I have a website right now that is under development and soon to be > launched. The particular concept of the website does not exist yet. > It's very simple and based on feedback, it has some great potential. > > I spoke to a patent lawyer who said he felt pretty comfortable saying > that he could file a patent for the website concept. When I say > concept, I mean what the website does and how it does it. The cost of > filing would be $5000 (inclusive of his fees). > > My question is...should I bother? > > My reckoning is that if the web giants came along and wanted to copy > my idea, they could go ahead and do so because I wouldn't have the > money to legally enforce my patent. To be honest, I wouldn't have the > money to enforce it with most people cause I'm using my personal funds > and it's pretty much all gone into the site and marketing etc. So > does that make a patent a waste of time and money? My main reason for > getting it would just be to serve as a deterrent to someone copying my > site. > > What are your thoughts? > > On another issue...I'm totally new to this group (the patent lawyer > was the one who put me onto it)....are there people here that are > looking for things to invest in? Like I said, I'm doing all this with > my own cash and would be open to some more funds so I can take it > further quicker... > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Silicon Beach > Australia mailing list. > > Guidelines on discussion: http://tr.im/ujKF > > No lurkers! It is expected that you introduce yourself: http://tr.im/ujMm > > To post to this group, send email to > [email protected] > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]<silicon-beach-australia%[email protected]> > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/silicon-beach-australia?hl=en?hl=en > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to silicon-beach-australia+ > unsubscribegooglegroups.com or reply to this email with the words "REMOVE > ME" as the subject. > -- Tim Bull Co-Founder BinaryPlex mob: 0407 015 623 http://www.binaryplex.com/ http://www.linkedin.com/in/timbull http://www.twitter.com/timbull -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Silicon Beach Australia mailing list. Guidelines on discussion: http://tr.im/ujKF No lurkers! It is expected that you introduce yourself: http://tr.im/ujMm To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/silicon-beach-australia?hl=en?hl=en To unsubscribe from this group, send email to silicon-beach-australia+unsubscribegooglegroups.com or reply to this email with the words "REMOVE ME" as the subject.
