Patent For Card Game

[Tirell]

My focus is on the following:

"... I CAN or CANNOT make public the details of my invention, inside of one year PRIOR to submitting a patent application ? I do not, of course, want to jeopardize being able to get a patent, when I am ready." What is your response ?

I am aware of the fact that the UPO/SB/95 form I  MYSELF submitted, accompanied by full details of the invention, ONLY officially establishes date of conception of the invention, as far as USPO is concerned. And nothing more.

"consider copyright protection, as it is relatively cheap and easier to enforce"

1- Do you provide this service and how much would I have to pay ?

2- What is the difference between copyright and patent ?

3- What about the search ? Do you provide this service as well and       what's the cost ?

A prompt response will be appreciated.

-------------------- Followup To - I submitted a disclosure document(UPO/SB/95) to The Patent Office, under their Disclosure Document Program and I received copies of what I sent them stamped with USPO stamp and also, they stuck a yellow sticker that has a "case number". As you know, this establishes a date on which it was submitted to them,

and "protects" me for two years, during which I must file an application for a patent. Otherwise, my submission "dies".

This is what I read from their web site.

"Inventors are reminded that any public use, publication or sale in the US or anywhere in the world, more than one year prior to the filing of a patent application on your invention, will prohibit the granting of a US patent on it". My wife understand it one way and I, the other way. My question to you is, how do you interpret

these lines ? I CAN or CANNOT make public the details of my invention, inside of one year PRIOR to submitting a patent application ? I do not, of course, want to jeopardize being able to get a patent, when I am ready. Anthony S.I, NY

[Adolf]

- 1. A disclosure document does not "protect" you. All it does is establish a date of consception of your invention. There is no recorded instance, to my knowledge, of a disclosure document making any difference to anyone. It is an archaic device.

2. In the United States, you have 12 months to file a patent application after disclosure or offer to sell to anyone. Filing the disclosure document, which is a confidential document with Uncle Sam, has nothing to do with, or any effect on, that 12 months(rather, I should say, one year) requirement.

If you have told others about your game, played it with them, more than a year ago, that was the disclosure. If it was disclosed in confidence, for purpose of development and testing, you may be okay. It depends on specifics.

As the disclosure document is kept confidential by Uncle Sam, and not published by Uncle Sam, it has no bearing on that 12 month rule. While the disclosure document may have "died", who cares? It was not a dislosure as far as the 12 months rule was concerned.

Stay away from invention promotion outfits. I mention that only because they push "disclosure documents", misleading inventors into thinking they are "protected".

Meanwhile, consider copyright protection, as it is relatively cheap and easier to enforce.

Check out my web site for free information, especially the book review page of helpful texts avaialble through your local libraries.

Best wishes on your project!

George H. Morganhttp://www.evansville.net/biz/patagent  

[banys]

1. You CAN. This is known as the 12 months grace period.(U.S. only). Other countries have their own rules and in those countries, in general, you CANNOT.

2. I don't do copyright work. Only Patents.

3. I don't do card game patents. I recommend you go through whoever is helping on your patent for your search.

3. Copyrights cover creative works, literature, etc. A separate body of law from patents, which cover inventions. Hard to explain simply.  How does $20 vs. thousands sound?

Check out the books on my websight for more information.

Best wishes!

George H. Morgan