Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

My invention uses readily available components, and some new but straightforward electronics, but the mix is the original concept. Thus there is no scope for Patents, since it uses proprietry items which exist. The concept is for a zero fuel cost car. In other words on the basis of 10000 annual miles, up to 80 mph, and so on, there is no fuel cost at all. It is wholly Green. Is there any level of protection on an IP basis given that it has been on Internet view publically since about October 2008?

Intellectual Property is a -very- gray area. Grab a lawyer who deals with patents / copyright and find out. If your idea is a million dollar idea, it`ll be worth the $100.

I agree Shawn.  Get a patent attorney.  James (patentandtrademark) in the SUN community seems to have a good handle on such topics.

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The older we get, the more excuses we make for not chasing after our dreams. But truth is, goals are attainable at any age.

Thanks for that both. Its not clear how IP works, and I am in UK so it may be different in the US. I can however prove my concept to a date as it was public on the Internet that day. Also it may be a little early as it was designed as if oil based fuels (petrol, gasoline, diesel) were no longer available in bulk quantities (around 2040?). Will take your advice.

you need to spend time and money to review this with your patent lawyer.  I will tell you that you can NOT patent a mere goal or objective to achieve.  For example, a car that gets 1,000 MPG can not be patented.  You can, however, obtain patent protection of a particular engine [which allows a car to get 1,000 MPG].  In other words, you need something "concrete" that has real-world utility.

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James Lindon, Ph.D. Patent Attorney
Lindon & Lindon, LLC
Cleveland, Ohio
Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Pharmacy Law, Litigation
[this is not legal advice - provided for discussion only]
Intellectual Property for the Individual and Small Business: Identify, Protect, Enforce, Defend.
"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread."
http://www.LindonLaw.com

Yes thanks for that. The total concept of course has "real world" utility and does work, in actuality. But the individual parts are proprietry and incapable of Patent. So in effect if you or anyone bought these parts, and built the electronic part (which is straightforward and of no new technical evolution) this car would work for you. However in the US your Gas is one third the price of ours - as far as I know unlike us you do not in the US get zero Road Tax for Green cars, so your interest as consumers would be less. Thanks for your thoughts very welcome.

a patent can be obtained even if all components are old.

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James Lindon, Ph.D. Patent Attorney
Lindon & Lindon, LLC
Cleveland, Ohio
Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Pharmacy Law, Litigation
[this is not legal advice - provided for discussion only]
Intellectual Property for the Individual and Small Business: Identify, Protect, Enforce, Defend.
"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread."
http://www.LindonLaw.com

Well the thought which Louis has got in his mind is brilliant. If someone can make a car which doesn`t require fuel and can go upto 80 miles per hour than the whole world will change to greenery garden. There are some cars available in some countries in which uses fuel but for the maintenance Garage`s are not available easily. Its see how much time will it take to get in the market easily. http://www.dvds-online-rental-review.com

The principle of my car is quite simple. It uses "bi directionality". The car is electric of course. Along with the car is a generation pack, which is wind and solar basically, sized for regions. It is not big, and operates 24/7/365. This produces a monetry value after losses of inverted mains power. This blends to the house electric supply. That monetry value of the generated power equals the whole use of the car, plus typically 20 to 35 percent of the house grid metered electricity. Hence the car has no fuel cost. The only new part to the concept is the electronic control unit which inverts the generated power (in the UK), synthesises the power factor (for AC in the UK), and varies charge control, and electronic switching below the grid supply meter. No power at all is drawn from the electric grid, indeed grid usage and hence power station emmisions is reduced. Thus it is truly green.