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I have an Idea, what is the next step?

I have an idea for what I feel could be a very useful product.
Obviously I need to find if the Idea has already been thought of, how do I do this.
I also need to find out if it is actually possible to create the product, again what is the best way of doing this?

Thanks
 
Asked by Daniel Connolly, May 2008   -  Contact this person

3 Answers

  1. That place of infinite wisdom, Google, should give you some idea if anyone else has thought of it ahead of you. The chances are that someone, somewhere in the world will have thought of something, if not the same, then similar, and if it is a useful product, they may have patented it. I have no idea about finding out if it's possible to create the product, but again, if someone else has done it, it is possible.
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    Answered by Lynne Tanner, May 2008   -  Contact this person
  2. Hi Daniel,

    The IPO website may be useful: http://www.ipo.gov.uk/

    The Business Link website also has some useful information: http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?type=RESOURCES&site=101&itemId=1074299367&r.s=sl
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    Answered by Lee Longstaff, May 2008   -  Contact this person
  3. Without any idea what the product is [material, size, complexity, etc.] it is hard to suggest where you might get advice on making it. If it is an engineered item, a small engineering concern can give you guidance on feasibility, possible costings, etc. For other types of product, you can go onto the Patent Office's web site and search for similar products, but I think there's a fee. The problem you obviously are wary of is that telling someone what you've got might give that person the idea to produce it and you lose out totally. Quite a dilemma. To get around it, up to a point, you could lodge a description, plan, all the other detail you can think of, and lodge it with a solicitor, suitably date stamped, in a sealed envelope. Not foolproof, but much less expensive than a patent agent.
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    Answered by Ric Richards, June 2008   -  Contact this person

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