tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31006871.post8580720456303868036..comments2009-01-23T08:37:20.433+02:00Duncan Drennanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18356141566912975917noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31006871.post-83190285427526711862009-01-23T08:37:00.000+02:002009-01-23T08:37:00.000+02:00I'm in the middle of a patent filing right now. I do it for the bonus and the recognition from management. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother given the amount of paperwork that is needed in filing a patent. It's a fairly large disincentive to do so for the regular working engineer.<BR/><BR/>The real satisfaction comes from seeing your invention work and out in the marketplace, not from filing a patent.Fluxorhttp://flyingflux.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31006871.post-89904735383332088642009-01-13T14:22:00.000+02:002009-01-13T14:22:00.000+02:00You also need to consider that the laws governing these things is a bit different in RSA compared to the USA. One significant difference is that software can be patented in the USA, while in South Africa this is not possible. Software falls under our copyright laws.<BR/><BR/>Someone pointed me towards this <A HREF="http://www.tinaja.com/patnt01.asp" REL="nofollow">interesting link about avoiding patents</A> (although I still need to read the articles).Duncan Drennanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18356141566912975917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31006871.post-33709346740201452572009-01-13T14:03:00.000+02:002009-01-13T14:03:00.000+02:00This is something I'm also pondering: patents. I read an interesting article in one of my 2008 IEEE Spectrums about new ideas and they mentioned that other methods to consider are copyright and trademarks (depending on the actual idea, of course). In some cases it's better to just go for copyright. There are also different cost and protection considerations.Pieterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01985006907879872942noreply@blogger.com