Patent advice

[rgramjet]

So yesterday, while working on my kayak, I came up with an idea.  (Insert "imagine that" comments here) My idea fills a niche and is a relatively simple modification to an unattached part.

Worth seeking a patent or should I shop the idea to potentially interested parties?

[ducpainter]

Is it possible to patent a modification?

[zooom]

Is it possible to patent a modification?

according to those late night TV commercials for patenting ideas it is....

[rgramjet]

Is it possible to patent a modification?

Thank you for paraphrasing my question.   

My idea combines two previously unrelated parts and makes it possible to mount a transducer with no holes made in the kayak.

Currently there are several gadgets that hang over the side or swing away, or are held in place with a suction cup.  Those methods are awkward.  There is also a method of holding the transducer in place using duct seal which gives unreliable readings and inaccurate temperature.

My idea is clean and portable.

[WarrenJ]

Patent laws just went through some major changes in March.  Functionally, now "first to file" has precedence over "first to invent"

[ducpainter]

Thank you for paraphrasing my question.   

My idea combines two previously unrelated parts and makes it possible to mount a transducer with no holes made in the kayak.

Currently there are several gadgets that hang over the side or swing away, or are held in place with a suction cup.  Those methods are awkward.  There is also a method of holding the transducer in place using duct seal which gives unreliable readings and inaccurate temperature.

My idea is clean and portable.

Write it up and submit it.

If you get one you can always sell it.

[muskrat]

So yesterday, while working on my kayak, I came up with an idea.  (Insert "imagine that" comments here) My idea fills a niche and is a relatively simple modification to an unattached part.

Worth seeking a patent or should I shop the idea to potentially interested parties?

check with junior varsity here on the board.  I believe he's doing intellectual property and patent stuff.

[Speeddog]

My experience in this field is somewhat dated, last I was involved in this kind of thing was late 90's, so YMMV....

If you don't have a patent, you've got nothing to sell.

Ethical companies won't even listen to your idea, because you've got no patent, and they don't want to get involved in a potential lawsuit.

Unethical companies will listen to your idea and steal it if they think it's worthwhile.
And you'll have no substantial legal recourse.... because you have no patent.

A patent only gives you a good platform to litigate against those who infringe upon it.
But nobody pays your lawyer except you.

[Monsterlover]

My experience in this field is somewhat dated, last I was involved in this kind of thing was late 90's, so YMMV....

If you don't have a patent, you've got nothing to sell.

Ethical companies won't even listen to your idea, because you've got no patent, and they don't want to get involved in a potential lawsuit.

Unethical companies will listen to your idea and steal it if they think it's worthwhile.
And you'll have no substantial legal recourse.... because you have no patent.

A patent only gives you a good platform to litigate against those who infringe upon it.
But nobody pays your lawyer except you.

This.

[stateprez]

Someone more knowledgable can correct me, but I believe you can file an "intent to patent" that will protect you for a period.  12 months, if I remember.  It's significantly cheaper too.

I had a moment like that over the winter.

[DRKWNG]

My idea combines two previously unrelated parts and makes it possible to mount a transducer with no holes made in the kayak.

And here I was convinced you had rigged up a smoker to the kayak.