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Invention; ...advice?
Topic Started: Jan 2 2008, 08:37 AM (588 Views)
The 89th Key
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I have a friend who has an idea for an invention. I'm usually a bit skeptical but this idea sounds really good. Without saying too much about what it is, does anyone here have any experience or advice as what some initial steps should be to get it moving?

The invention is nothing too major (like a flying car), is something that would cost less than 50-100 bucks retail, has some basic mechanical production needs, is smaller than a basketball, and is something that could definitely be used by people all over the world.

Sorry for the vagueness but I dont have permission to discuss specifics.

Any ideas?

I would assume a patent would be needed, but I think schematics might be required. Also is it a bad idea to talk to companies who could sell this, since they might be able to steal the idea?
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Frank_W
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Resident Misanthrope
I would think the first step, would be to apply for a patent with the US Patent Office. You can probably do a search and find them on-line, and I'm sure they will have links for inventors, including the process for submitting/protecting an idea.
Anatomy Prof: "The human body has about 20 sq. meters of skin."
Me: "Man, that's a lot of lampshades!"
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The 89th Key
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That was my thought as well Frank...I think I will go that route but wanted to see if anyone here had some "life lessons" or advice from experience, etc...
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Larry
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Mmmmmmm, pie!
Wait just a minute.

You mean to tell me that your friend didn't invent this for the art of it? You mean to tell me that he wants to take steps to see that no one....

RIPS HIM OFF??????

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

He should invent things for the benefit to mankind, not for the money in it! I should be able to have access to it for free!


BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

Funny how things look differently when you step over onto the other side of the fence, isn't it?

Of the Pokatwat Tribe

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The 89th Key
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What's funny is that you *still* don't get it. :lol2:
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QuirtEvans
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I Owe It All To John D'Oh
I forget the standard for a patent offhand, but it has to be something significantly new ... it can't be derivative of an existing thing. If you think this is an issue, I can look up the standard easily enough.

But the real answer is to spend a little money and go see a patent lawyer. They can tell you quickly enough whether it's patentable, or whether you're wasting your time.
It would be unwise to underestimate what large groups of ill-informed people acting together can achieve. -- John D'Oh, January 14, 2010.
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kathyk
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Here's step by step explanation of the process

http://www.business-analysis-made-easy.com...-In-The-US.html

Blogging in Palestine: http://kksjournal.com/
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The 89th Key
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Thanks guys/gals! :wave:
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Larry
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Mmmmmmm, pie!
The 89th Key
Jan 2 2008, 11:45 AM
What's funny is that you *still* don't get it. :lol2:

I get it just fine.

When someone creates music, you think they shouldn't have a right to protect it. You think they should create music for art's sake, and anyone who wants it should be able to get it for free. That's what you said. But when it's your friend's invention, you want to protect it from those who would take it for free, because he wants to make money off of it.

No, I get it just fine.

Of the Pokatwat Tribe

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QuirtEvans
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I Owe It All To John D'Oh
Larry, you never commented in the RIAA thread as to your views on copying a CD you own onto your computer ... or lending a CD to a friend who will not copy it.

I'm interested in your views on that.
It would be unwise to underestimate what large groups of ill-informed people acting together can achieve. -- John D'Oh, January 14, 2010.
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Larry
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Mmmmmmm, pie!
They are floundering around trying to come up with ways to protect themselves against a very rapidly changing technology. The way I see it, the consumer will go too far one way, they'll go too far the other way, both sides will get pissed off, and eventually a more reasonable solution will evolve. The two things you've mentioned are ridiculous on their part. Copying a CD onto your computer is a bit like copying it to a cassette tape, lending it to a friend is something that's always gone on and will continue to go on. They can't stop that, and shouldn't be trying to stop that. The big problem is that in the past when you loaned your album to a friend to copy, his copy was always inferior to the original, so it didn't bite into sales all that much. With digital, the copy is identical to the original.

It's a big problem, and it will be interesting to see how it all ends up shaking out.
Of the Pokatwat Tribe

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QuirtEvans
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I Owe It All To John D'Oh
OK, thanks. I'm glad to see that your views and your analysis are still identical (or close to identical) to mine on this subject.
It would be unwise to underestimate what large groups of ill-informed people acting together can achieve. -- John D'Oh, January 14, 2010.
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
Respect for property rights are fundamental to a market economy. That goes for intellectual/artistic/creative property too.
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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Aqua Letifer
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ZOOOOOM!
Mikhailoh
Jan 2 2008, 09:48 AM
Respect for property rights are fundamental to a market economy. That goes for intellectual/artistic/creative property too.

I don't think there's much disagreement there. But the disagreement comes in defining what that means.
I cite irreconcilable differences.
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The 89th Key
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Larry
Jan 2 2008, 12:20 PM
The 89th Key
Jan 2 2008, 11:45 AM
What's funny is that you *still* don't get it. :lol2:

I get it just fine.

When someone creates music, you think they shouldn't have a right to protect it. You think they should create music for art's sake, and anyone who wants it should be able to get it for free. That's what you said. But when it's your friend's invention, you want to protect it from those who would take it for free, because he wants to make money off of it.

No, I get it just fine.

Thanks for demonstrating my point even further.

Your involuntary obtuseness is expected at this point, so no need to feed the troll...
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Frank_W
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I don't think he's trolling, 89th. FWIW, I agree with Larry. Theft is theft. :shrug: Why is his view obtuse? Why is expressing his opinion considered trolling? :shrug:
Anatomy Prof: "The human body has about 20 sq. meters of skin."
Me: "Man, that's a lot of lampshades!"
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Aqua Letifer
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ZOOOOOM!
Frank_W
Jan 2 2008, 11:06 AM
I don't think he's trolling, 89th. FWIW, I agree with Larry. Theft is theft. :shrug: Why is his view obtuse? Why is expressing his opinion considered trolling? :shrug:

Because of how he expresses it. I personally don't consider it trolling, but Larry's posting style is definitely harsher than others.
I cite irreconcilable differences.
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Frank_W
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Oh, I don't know... Larry has never called me a bitch or an asshole or told me to die, or some of the other vile crap that has been hurled my way by certain posters, here.

:shrug:
Anatomy Prof: "The human body has about 20 sq. meters of skin."
Me: "Man, that's a lot of lampshades!"
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The 89th Key
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Frank_W
Jan 2 2008, 02:06 PM
I don't think he's trolling, 89th. FWIW, I agree with Larry. Theft is theft. :shrug: Why is his view obtuse? Why is expressing his opinion considered trolling?  :shrug:

We have had a million discussions on my views on the topic, where I agree and where I disagree with Larry.

He however continues to paint my view in an INCORRECT or simplified manner, because if I *did* hold those views, he would be able to argue against them easier. I don't know if it's a pride thing, an inability-to-understand thing, a purposefully obtuse thing, an urge to be right even-if-that-means-I-incorrectly-summarize-someone-else's-view thing, I really don't know....but I don't care at this point.

That's why it's obtuse. If you made a complex argument about a specific issue, and I *continued* (that's the key part) to misinterpret and misrepresent your views...you would eventually come to the conclusion that I'm being obtuse. Many others here have said this about Larry's "debating style" and so I'm not the first. I'm just getting in line.

And I say he's trolling because, in my opinion, in the last few months specifically, many times his first post in a thread is made in an insulting or instigating manner. And that's the definition of a troll*.

* A troll is "someone who posts controversial messages in an on-line community such as an on-line discussion forum with the intention of baiting other users into an emotional response." Wiki Source
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Frank_W
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Why consent to being emotional? Who's in charge of your emotions; you or Larry?
Anatomy Prof: "The human body has about 20 sq. meters of skin."
Me: "Man, that's a lot of lampshades!"
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The 89th Key
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Being a troll isn't contingent on an emotional response being present.

So regardless of my emotional response (which I rarely give since I know the futility in such an action), the characterizing of Larry's style as a troll is already made...a response isn't needed to complete the circle, if you know what I mean.
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Frank_W
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Well, anyway... Larry is not nearly as incendiary, in my experience, as some of the other posters that I've apparently run afoul of in recent weeks. YMMV....

So much could be solved, if you took a moment to understand why he (and others) may hold the views that they do, and why they may be reacting to you the way that they have. Perhaps they have a mistaken perception of your intent or your point of view. Perhaps you have a mistaken perception of theirs.
Anatomy Prof: "The human body has about 20 sq. meters of skin."
Me: "Man, that's a lot of lampshades!"
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Larry
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Mmmmmmm, pie!
Quote:
 
He however continues to paint my view in an INCORRECT or simplified manner, because if I *did* hold those views, he would be able to argue against them easier.


Eh - no. I am simply repeating back to you what you've said. You're the one who has tried to rephrase your own statements, not me.


Of the Pokatwat Tribe

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Frank_W
Jan 2 2008, 02:22 PM
Well, anyway... Larry is not nearly as incendiary, in my experience, as some of the other posters that I've apparently run afoul of in recent weeks. YMMV....

Just wait until he, without prompt, insults you over and over...or misrepresents your position on something over and over. We all know Larry does that, and quite a few of us actually call him out on it. You are smart not to say anything anyway....for a while I've been ignoring Larry because I know my confrontations with him only add fuel to his fire.
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Frank_W
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I haven't said anything because I hold the same view, and mine is very cut and dry:

If you download and enjoy music without paying for it, it's theft.
If you download and enjoy movies without paying for them, it's theft.
If you upload someone else's work so that someone else can download it without paying for it, you are an accessory to theft.

It takes a hell of a lot of work to create music, a movie, or a new invention. For someone to steal your work so that you don't receive any money for it, it's no different than if you put in an eight-hour day and your employer didn't pay you for it. Your employer would be guilty of theft.

Theft is theft. Period.
Anatomy Prof: "The human body has about 20 sq. meters of skin."
Me: "Man, that's a lot of lampshades!"
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