What effect does a patent have?

Question

I'm researching a project, and I could do with a bit of information about patents. Is it basically like a copyright? Is it still legal to use that idea, with or without permission? Does it protect the idea globally? Or is a patent just a way of publicising new technologies, so everyone can know what's going on?

Thanks for any help.

Answer 1

To some extent the patent is some kind of copyright that is if you patent something you have the right to it including how it is used and who can use it,maybe everything related to  it,especially those about finacial benifits.So if you patent some very creative ideas that can be put into reality or can be used to manufacture indusrial products,you may gain a lot of money even become a millionare.

   to get a patent you have to register it officially and you also is required to pay some amount of money to keep it.

Answer 2

Have a look at http://www.patentengineers.com

I think it'll answer most of your questions.

Answer 3

When you patent something I'm pretty sure you have to o it country by country...so you should chose the industrial ones. You have to do it officially.

Patent is basically  a copyright - no one can take that idea now, you have the rights to it and who can use it or manufacture it. You have the rights to loan people an idea and collect royalties (e.g. every time a radio is used in a car - the maker of the radio will be payed a sum of money)

here's more information

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent