intellectual property and copyrights

[buffo]

I don't understand (english not native language)

So you mean everything I post on a public forum can not be patented anymore?

Could you clarify it a little bit more.

By posting about a new idea in public, you are releasing the idea to the public. This constitutes "prior art", which is one of the conditions under which a patent can be denied. Prior art means that someone has already done the same thing that you are trying to patent. If you post your idea, it is evidence of prior art, and thus no one else can patent the idea from that point on.

Note that *you* can still patent the idea for a short period after you make your public announcement. (Andrew mentioned a 1 year period, though I thought it was shorter than that. But I am not a patent lawyer.) Nevertheless, because it is your idea, prior art doesn't apply to you. (Since the prior art is yours to begin with.) But no one else can steal your idea and patent it out from under you once you've made the public post.

Hope this helps!

Adam

[Doc]

In the UK if you document your design, seal it properly in an envelope and mail it to yourself; the official dated postmark on the un opened sealed envelope counts as proof in court.

[Laser Ben]

I have a patent pending right now, I was told that any disclosure of the information without a written non disclosure agreement makes the information public knowledge. I was told that once an idea has been documented and notarized officially, it is evidence in court.

Apparently once the patent application has been sent into the PTO, it is considered protected and can be disclosed without a NDA.

[jfloots]

Whenever I don't want people to comment or discuss anything I always post on a public forum too.

LMFAO @ soforene!