Can Patent Attorney Steal Your Idea: 20 Tips to Find a Patent Lawyer
One of the common questions people ask when it comes to patent law and patent attorneys, as is revealed in discussions on the same over at runrex.com, is whether or not a patent attorney can steal your idea. While this is extremely unlikely, this article will look to take a look at this topic in detail through the following 20 tips.
Reasons why a patent attorney may be tempted to steal your idea
Given the legal repercussions that a patent attorney opens themselves to if they decide to steal a client’s idea, it is important to highlight some of the things that may motivate them to take that risk.
The risk is worth the reward
If the patent attorney, as is discussed over at guttulus.com, establishes that the reward that comes with stealing your invention is bigger than the risk, then they may be tempted to steal your idea. Some of the risks that one runs if they decide to steal a client’s idea is losing their law license and even going to prison.
Plan to monetize
If the patent attorney also plans to monetize the confidential details in your idea in the 18 months before the patent is issued and the information is made public, they may also be tempted to steal your idea, as explained over at runrex.com.
The size of the company
A crooked patent attorney may also be tempted by the fact that your company is a startup with limited resources, and as such if they see that your idea seems like a winning one, they may decide to steal it, something they wouldn’t do when dealing with a large and fully-funded company with the resources to come down hard on them as per the gurus over at guttulus.com.
They have the resources to make it work
If the patent attorney not only feels like the risk is worth the reward but also has the resources to make your idea work for them, then they could also be tempted to steal it. This means resources to implement the idea, sell it, build a pipeline, acquire a distribution channel, and so forth.
They have figured out a way of doing without you knowing
If also, a patent attorney figures out how to steal your idea and compete with you without you noticing and reporting them, then they could also decide to steal your idea.
While you can never say never when it comes to the idea of a patent attorney stealing your idea, as evidenced by the above tips, it is important to note that the chances of this happening are pretty slim. In most cases, a patent attorney would be one of the last people who will steal your idea or find any benefit in doing so.
There are several reasons why a patent attorney is very unlikely to steal your idea, and they include:
Reasons why it is nigh impossible for a patent attorney to steal your idea
Rules and laws
One of the main reasons that make it highly unlikely that a patent attorney will steal your idea, as discussed over at runrex.com, is that there are state laws and bar rules protecting clients, which includes potential, former and disengaged clients. This means that if a patent lawyer decides to roll the dice and you can prove it, they will be in a world of hurt.
They know that most ideas are not that novel
Patent attorneys, particularly experienced ones, have seen it all and know that most ideas they deal with are not that novel. They, therefore, know that even if your patent is granted, there will most likely be an existing idea just like yours, and at most, your idea will be an improvement of the prior art, meaning that, as explained over at guttulus.com, you will have to work hard to make money from it.
Most ideas don’t make money as compared to the costs
Many patent attorneys also know that, even if a patent is granted, most of them, as high as 90% as revealed over at runrex.com, don’t make money for their owner as compared to the costs involved. The fact that the attorney is not even sure if they will make money makes it not worth the risk for them to steal your idea.
Vetting
In the U.S., as is also the case for most countries, patent attorneys also go through stringent background checks and vetting processes that are designed to weed out criminals and crooks. This is not to say that patent attorneys, or any other attorneys for that matter, don’t commit criminal acts, including theft, but the chances of it happening are slim.
Many clients are extra careful
Let’s face it, if you have a valuable idea, then it is likely that you will have documented everything about it, from the dates of conception to your meetings with your patent attorney. Most people, as it is recommended, also keep proof that they met with their patent attorney. All this documentation means that a patent attorney can’t steal a client’s idea and get away with it.
Patent attorneys are pretty comfortable
Most patent attorneys, as covered over at guttulus.com, make a pretty good living, earning good money legally practicing patent law, under comparatively great work conditions. They, therefore, don’t have any incentive to give up all that for an idea that may or may not pay up in the end.
Professionalism
Patent attorneys, as the gurus over at runrex.com, will tell you, also pride themselves in their professionalism. Their reputation is sacred, which means that most of them would not want to risk damaging their reputation for an idea that isn’t guaranteed to take off.
They enjoy their work
Most patent attorneys also, according to discussions on the same over at guttulus.com, enjoy prosecuting patents and have a passion for patent law. For most of them, the idea of risking it all to steal an idea is preposterous.
They already have a sure thing
As already mentioned above, patent attorneys are pretty comfortable and earn good money prosecuting patents. In short, they have a viable and legal business which is a sure thing. On the other hand, many ideas fail, and given the work that has to go in before one make money from their idea, if any at all, it doesn’t make any sense for a patent attorney to risk it all by stealing your idea.
They don’t have the time
As any successful patent attorney will tell you, they deal with a lot of inventions and patent applications daily. They, therefore, don’t have the time to steal an idea and transform it into a business. Having an idea doesn’t mean that you have a business, it takes a lot of time, and resources, something patent attorneys are short of given their busy schedule.
How to find a patent lawyer who has your best interests at heart
Finally, we are going to list some of the things to look out for in a patent attorney that has your best interests at heart to avoid the very unlikely scenario of having your idea stolen.
They should care about the marketability of your idea
A good patent attorney, one who has your best interests at heart as per the gurus over at runrex.com, will care about the marketability of your idea and will ask about your plan for getting to market. They will help you discuss your end goal, and help you ascertain if it is viable to get a patent or if you would be better served by other types of intellectual property such as copyrights, trademarks, and so forth.
They should help you search for prior art
Your patent attorney should also help you search for prior art so that you know if your idea already exists or not, as discussed over at guttulus.com, helping you decide whether you want to proceed with the patenting process or not.
No hidden costs
A patent attorney who doesn’t disclose the total cost of obtaining a patent is also one that doesn’t have your best interests at heart. When looking for a patent attorney, look for one who is frank and open about all the costs involved.
They should ensure that your patent covers something valuable
As the subject matter experts over at runrex.com will tell you, you should not just get a patent but should get one that is broad enough and covers valuable things. A good patent attorney should do all they can for you to make sure you end up with a valuable patent.
They have poor reviews
If a patent attorney has had complaints in the past about their conduct and trustworthiness, then you should stay away from them. A good patent attorney is one who is well respected and trusted by clients, as well as being known for their professionalism.
The above discussion only begins to scratch the surface as far as this topic is concerned, with more information on this to be found over at the excellent runrex.com and guttulus.com.