Patent Licensing question

[nellj]

I have a question for the BGOL fam.

I have an idea that I've done research on and found out it had already been patented. The only product that I've been able to find is something that's only sold online and is not mainstream at all. My question is how would I go about licensing the patent? I found out the inventor is actually a mayor of a small New York town. I'm in L.A. and what I have planned for this invention would be very beneficial for a lot of the citizens here. What type of money would I be looking at to license the patent, etc?

 

[PLEX]

I don't know the exact price for patents, but you definitely need to do something to protect your portion of the invention. The only only problem lies in the fact that someone already has a patent on an idea like yours. So what you would have to do is make an obvious improvement upon that existing product. Then you can patent that idea. You cannot patent the same idea he already holds a patent to. Even if you can prove it was your idea prior to his. Only a patent will protect you. So you have to find a way to get that patent without exposing it to someone else who may be unscrupulous. In 2005, I did a poor man's copyright on a lottery idea I came up with in 2000. The only reason I did it was because I had a meeting with a newly elected state rep about my idea, so I wanted some sort of protection/proof showing it was my idea. Yet, the Louisiana Lottery commission came out with my idea last year, and just started running it again for this year. As you can imagine I'm pissed about the millions I'm missing out on. Plus, when I first saw it I was like "YES, they stole it, now I can sue em." Sheeit, every lawyer I spoke with said without a patent there was nothing I can do.

I'm almost positive that isn't true. Cause I saw recently where Paris (the rapper) is about to sue CBS for stealing an isea for a tv show that he copyrighted, So maybe fortune & or fame can make a difference. Seeing as how none of us have enough of that to equal actual clout, make sure you get on that patent asap. Good luck homie. 100

 

[nellj]

Really appreciate that. There's really nothing I can make an improvement on this certain idea as I've really thought long and hard about it. The next step I guess is to try to contact the inventor himself and see what my options are.

 

[PLEX]

I really suggest you contact a lawyer and get advice on what you should do prior to contacting the inventor him/herself. Just real talk, if anything ever goes the way of litigation or whatever, it will be noted that you always handled everything through the proper channels.