Idea copyrights, need legal idea/advice

[ksandvik]

The costly part with patent applications is figuring out prior work -- not that the US Patent office has a web site for searching as well as you could do generic Internet searches.

If you have a friendly connection to a company working with DJ gear -- assuming they will not go behind your back -- you could always work with them.

[astromech]

im not sure how this may work if you are using an idea already out, the people that made the iphone, bluetooth versions.... there is some loophole against using other peoples products to try and patent, if you use an iphone expect apple to get lawyers etc..

You are allowed to create derivative work from patents. For example, If you do something that improves or builds on the patented work, you can then patent that.

[ToS]

Hm, but can it be licensed in some way? Something like CreativeCommons license does?

[astromech]

Hm, but can it be licensed in some way? Something like CreativeCommons license does?

A patent just means you control the rights. You can keep those rights, but not enforce them just as Google did with WebM video codecs. I'm not sure if you can attach an open license (like GNU or Apache) though.

Another thing to remember is trademarks. You have to register them, and enforce them to keep hold of it. Which is why companies come down hard when their logo is misused.

[ToS]

Hm, thanks. I guess I'll just have to release it to the public as-is. Ok, after I find a patent-lawyer and have a little discussion.

Thanks guys.