OK, I didn't know where to put this, but I decided against 'Legal Issues' because I'm not looking to set up a site or anything, just curious. Please tell me if I'm wrong Anyway, lets say that Apple, rather foolishly, never patented the idea of a touch screen phone with music and other apps (the iPhone). Could I then take advantage of this by patenting the idea, and then charging them to keep it? Or can you only patent before something is made?? Thanks in advance, Simon
I only know about US law, but here's your brief primer on patent law in the US. You can only patent something if it's novel, non-obvious, functional innovation and you have to be able to describe it in sufficient detail to enable someone else how to understand how to do it. Here's your problem. Once a product hits the market and someone else has made it, it's not novel anymore. You wouldn't be successful in obtaining a patent. Hope that helps. Deena Burgess, Esq. ____________________________________________________________________ Any opinions are offered without knowledge of the specific law of your jurisdiction and with only the limited information provided in your post. No advice given here should be reasonably relied upon by you or any third party without consulting an attorney who is aware of all of the facts and law surrounding your situation. Any advice given here is not intended to create an attorney-client relationship in any way.