John, No or maybe. The business case is weak, but the intellectual pride is great. US Patent costs are absurd. And I don't even know what maintainance costs might be. A patent is only a license to sue those who infringe on you. So there is more cost.
The minimum cost for a US patent might be less than $1000. The patent offers a claim to an original idea and that is a good feeling. The nice thing is that it gets your name into the patent records. You could also get a provisional patent for about $75 and get 2 years of protection and idea registration. http://www.sundialsetup.com/ http://www.patents.ibm.com/details?patent_number=5760739 I am pleased and proud of my patent but wouldn't do it again though. And mine is an applied gnomonic device. The most important thing to do early is to somehow note your idea (yet keep it confidential), either in an inventor's notebook or with an attorney. Get the book "Patent it Yourself" by Pressman. Good luck, Richard Pauli At 06:34 PM 8/30/98 -0400, Uncle John wrote: >Fellow sundial enthusiasts, > >Is it worth even considering getting a patent on a sundial? I imagine some >of you have done so. Would you do it again? > >John > >
