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Guitar Discussions -> Two guitar related questions: Patents/Logos
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Two guitar related questions: Patents/Logos - Robert Machado - 6-:27 -0-09-20
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Hello,
2 guitar related question, although they are not really related:
1) PATENTS: Anyone have any experience with getting a patent? I have an
idea, it would never make me any money, but I'd like to say that I have a
guitar related patent. I have done no research on this so far, and
depending on any feedback I get as well as cost, I may or may not persue
this. It's just for shits and giggles. I'm in the USA.
2) LOGOS: With my guitar playing, I set goals for myself each year,
and there is one aspect that I haven't hit yet, and that is a logo. I want
a logo, something unique I can put on business cards, but on a shirt,
stencil on my roadcases (if I ever own a roadcase). But, I have no artistic
capabilities, and to be honest, I don't even know what I want. Our family
actually has a Family Brand (like what you would brand onto a cow), and that
sounded interesting, but that's kind of my Dad's thing. For someone with no
drawing ability, very little imagination, and no experience in this area,
where/how does one get a brand? What is the starting point? Who would even
do something like this? Similar to above, I have not started the research
on this in hopes that people here with experience might give me a few
guidelines.
Thanks in advance, and happy Saturday.
Rob
--
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http://www.myspace.com/montereyguitarist
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Re: Two guitar related questions: Patents/Logos - Jim - 6-:27 -0-09-20
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Robert Machado wrote:
> Hello,
>
> 2 guitar related question, although they are not really related:
>
> 1) PATENTS: Anyone have any experience with getting a patent? I have an
> idea, it would never make me any money, but I'd like to say that I have a
> guitar related patent. I have done no research on this so far, and
> depending on any feedback I get as well as cost, I may or may not persue
> this. It's just for shits and giggles. I'm in the USA.
It's not easy. Most applications that are done without the aid of a
patent attorney are rejected.
>
> 2) LOGOS: With my guitar playing, I set goals for myself each year,
> and there is one aspect that I haven't hit yet, and that is a logo. I want
> a logo, something unique I can put on business cards, but on a shirt,
> stencil on my roadcases (if I ever own a roadcase). But, I have no artistic
> capabilities, and to be honest, I don't even know what I want. Our family
> actually has a Family Brand (like what you would brand onto a cow), and that
> sounded interesting, but that's kind of my Dad's thing. For someone with no
> drawing ability, very little imagination, and no experience in this area,
> where/how does one get a brand? What is the starting point? Who would even
> do something like this? Similar to above, I have not started the research
> on this in hopes that people here with experience might give me a few
> guidelines.
Get an artist to help, then trademark or service mark or copyright it.
>
> Thanks in advance, and happy Saturday.
>
> Rob
>
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Re: Two guitar related questions: Patents/Logos - Patrick Keenan - 6-:27 -0-09-20
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"Robert Machado" <robmachado@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:F3r1m.7223$Dx2.1475@flpi146.ffdc.sbc.com...
> Hello,
>
> 2 guitar related question, although they are not really related:
>
> 1) PATENTS: Anyone have any experience with getting a patent? I have
> an idea, it would never make me any money, but I'd like to say that I have
> a guitar related patent. I have done no research on this so far, and
> depending on any feedback I get as well as cost, I may or may not persue
> this. It's just for shits and giggles. I'm in the USA.
You can apply for a patent, but the process is not necessarily quick, simple
or inexpensive. It does require patent searches, to establish that your
idea is not already in existence which can mean that you are infringing.
It may also be unpatentable. In addition, there are questions of prior art,
which may or may not mean a previous patent.
Patent agents are commonly recommended, but I'm not sure that they are
required.
As for your motivation - again, the process *can* be slow and expensive.
> 2) LOGOS: With my guitar playing, I set goals for myself each year,
> and there is one aspect that I haven't hit yet, and that is a logo. I
> want a logo, something unique I can put on business cards, but on a shirt,
> stencil on my roadcases (if I ever own a roadcase). But, I have no
> artistic capabilities, and to be honest, I don't even know what I want.
> Our family actually has a Family Brand (like what you would brand onto a
> cow), and that sounded interesting, but that's kind of my Dad's thing.
> For someone with no drawing ability, very little imagination, and no
> experience in this area, where/how does one get a brand? What is the
> starting point? Who would even do something like this? Similar to above,
> I have not started the research on this in hopes that people here with
> experience might give me a few guidelines.
>
> Thanks in advance, and happy Saturday.
>
> Rob
Trademarks and copyrights are very different from patents, and are much
easier to get - provided, again, that you aren't infringing.
In some cases, copyrights are more appropriate than patents.
There's a lot of information available, and a place to start - aside from
Google - is the US Patent Office site. It's best to get the official line.
http://www.uspto.gov/
And this page has a link to an online application, which can give you
significant insight into the requirements and process:
http://www.uspto.gov/main/patents.htm
Your public library system should also have information on the topic.
It's a really good idea to at least confer with a lawyer who specialises in
intellectual property. This won't be inexpensive, but will help you
understand.
Finally, while patents, trademarks and copyrights give legal protection,
it's up to the patent/trademark/copyright holder to look for and police
infringements. So,. while you can go to the courts to defend your rights,
the courts won't come to you saying that they need defending.
Please don't interpret this as being an attempt to dissuade or discourage
you. My intent is quite the reverse; if you know what the processes are
and follow them, you'll have a much easier time of it, and you will waste
less time. Hope all goes well for you.
HTH
-pk
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Re: Two guitar related questions: Patents/Logos - RichL - 6-:27 -0-09-20
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Robert Machado <robmachado@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> 1) PATENTS: Anyone have any experience with getting a patent? I
> have an idea, it would never make me any money, but I'd like to say
> that I have a guitar related patent. I have done no research on this
> so far, and depending on any feedback I get as well as cost, I may or
> may not persue this. It's just for shits and giggles. I'm in the
> USA.
Yup. As others have said, it's a long and difficult process. In the
US, you can now get a "Provisional Patent", which requires less review
but it's understood that it's a place holder until the real thing comes
through. But it does put you on record as having the idea.
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/provapp.htm
I have nine patents (none of which is music-related), and in every case
I had the assistance of attorneys that either worked for the same
organization that I worked for or who the organization hired on
contract. In all cases, they were patent specialists. I couldn't
imagine going through the process on my own, although it's possible in
principle to do so.
If you do hire a patent attorney, you will spend an extended period of
time communicating back and forth; it's understood that they attorney
doesn't necessarily know any technical details about the area in which
you are attempting to secure a patent; likewise, you don't know anything
about the law. You must be prepared to explain to him what others in
the field have done previously in areas related to your invention. The
less you know about this, or the less effectively that you communicate
the information to the attorney, the less likely it is that your
application will pass muster with the patent office.
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Re: Two guitar related questions: Patents/Logos - WB - 6-:27 -0-09-20
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Jim wrote:
> It's not easy. Most applications that are done without the aid of a
> patent attorney are rejected.
>
>
That is not necessary true. Patents can take a variety of
forms now, and one can avoid doing *patent* research
supposing .. eliminating the long duration of applying
for one.
I work in a computer R&D group , and I've been told of recent
application easements. Of course we have attorneys and such
to waggle the details.
YMMV.
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Re: Two guitar related questions: Patents/Logos - WB - 6-:27 -0-09-20
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Patrick Keenan wrote:
> You can apply for a patent, but the process is not necessarily quick, simple
> or inexpensive. It does require patent searches, to establish that your
>
Not necessary .. see my reply to Jim.
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