Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I`m looking at this as an avenue to prove the conception date, and by whom certain ideas were conceived. I don`t see why this can`t serve the purpose I`m going after, all I need is something to legitimately prove who came up with certain ideas, and who has the proof that shows they came up with the ideas first. Now, I know there is some service the trademark agency provides, but I dont see why this can`t be just as effective.

So anyway, here`s my real question. Could there be any inherent flaws in putting a lot of the information pertaining to the proof on floppy disks inside an envelope? The thing is, it`s like 70 pages, and I don`t see the need to print that out when an enclosed floppy disk could serve that same purpose. Unless, of course, there`s some legal loophole to the whole process I`m not aware of. If anyone has any knowledge on this, it would be much appreciated. Because you see, I`m at a stage where I`m willing to submit some trade secrets and highly confidential material to a VC or two [for some reason I`m really not concerned with them stealing anything, after all their reputation is on the line], but I just want to have something that proves I came up with this stuff first. Thanks a lot

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I want to know, if I can live with what I know. And only that.

It`s elementary my dear Watson! 

Mailing oneself an envelop doesn`t prove date of conception - remembering that steam can open most envelopes?

Furthermore, trade secrets are just that, secret.  Noone else but you should know about it, therefore any record of it must be carefully guarded in some safe deposit box.  Trade secrets would not be secret anymore if you explained it to VC or anyone else.  Noone needs to know it.  People just need to know something is being done cleverly or effectively.  For example, what is the secret of putting bearing balls in a ball bearing?  Most if not all engineers don`t know it.  Or secret recipe of Coke, or McDonald`s secret sauce.  Or the secret trick of turning lead into gold.

So don`t ever tell anyone your trade secrets.  Just show them results.  As a matter of fact VCs are more interested in palpable results than any trade secrets or patents. Another beauty about trade secrets is most can`t figure out what they are.  Ask performing magicians about theirs!


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Most VC`s are going to want to know how the results occurred. Unless it is a product, not a service. It wold depend on the product, and if the product can hold its secret. A patent is most logical to protect a product developed for some years.

Don`t overlook the issue that a floppy disk (if that is truly what you meant) is also wide open to outside magnetic devices wiping it clean...

Also, I`ve seen on other posts (or maybe on StartupNation Radio) that a mailed envelope does not hold any legal value what-so-ever...

Hope this helps, good luck!

R-


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Quaerite Primum Regnum

"There's a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line."
~ Oscar Levant ~

Twitter: @rossb

I explained to some 40 VC groups my invention and patents.  They didn`t care much much or didn`t understand them.  They just wanted to see how money can be made with the idea and with management team.  I see them invest tens of millions $ in "outrageous" patents or technologies I wouldn`t waste my money on. Examples: Jam Technologies, D2AUDIO, Iwatt...  Oh yeah, I`m green of envy.


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There will never be a need to ‘prove’ that anybody came first with a ‘trade secret’ because by it’s very nature a trade secrete is not proprietary, the only value it has is that it is secret. Once you’ve disclosed it the secret is gone, anybody can disclose it or not at will.

For patents on the other hand, keep in mind that who came up with the idea first is in the US somewhat relevant but not entirely decisive. Consult with your attorney. 

I too have heard the same thing about items mailed to yourself having no legal value.  If you do decide to do this method, at least print out the documents so you do not risk loosing the data due to a failed floppy disk/CD/thumb drive, etc.  Or worse yet, realize 10 years down the road that you can`t open a MS Office XP word document due to normal compatability reasons.

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Bill
Design Inside
http://www.designinsidechicago.com

If mailing something to yourself was a substitute, even a poor substitute, for a patent or trademark, the USPTO would have closed down years ago.  It costs nearly nothing to mail to yourself, yet something to apply for a patent.  Why do thousands of patent applications get filed every year?  What is the perceived value and actual value of doing that?  IBM files patent applications because IBM thinks it is a good decision to do so - not because IBM likes paying lawyers. 

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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, I just figure if I ever have to go to court because someone is told this stuff to is trying to do the same exact thing as me, atleast I have something that proves that I should, at the very least, be able to do it too. It would be  horrible to think they could sue me for copying their ideas, which were originally my ideas in the first place. And if I decide upon mailing these things to myself, I`m definitely going to notarize the docs to perhaps give myself more legal clout. Thank you all for your help.

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I want to know, if I can live with what I know. And only that.

Yes, it would be horrible.  Notarizing won`t help either.  Sorry.

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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