A press release has just been sent out by the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys warning of the dangers in giving away details of your invention.
The Ideal Home Show is celebrating 100 years and so for its annual exhibition it is hosting a competition called InnovationNation. The ten most promising inventions that are sent in will be "showcased" at the Show in March, at London's Earl's Court. Only UK residents may apply. Adam Hart-Davis, who has hosted many science-related programmes on television, will be involved.
The press release is in fact Hart-Davis' own plea that the entrants do not lose their rights. Sending in details of an invention that hasn't yet been applied for as a patent is, to put it mildly, inadvisable. This is called "disclosure" unless done in confidence, such as the recepients filling in a non-disclosure form. This hardly applies to all those watching the show. Steps are being taken to ensure that the inventors' rights will not be lost.
In my experience private inventors are divided fairly evenly between those who refuse to give even a clue to how the invention works and those who are only too eager to disclose all they know. Rather like the chap who used his mobile to read out his credit card details to someone while travelling on a train to Newport the other week.
Sometimes the advantage of the invention can be explained without giving away how it works. A new type of writing instrument that saved 30% of the current cost of ballpoint pens yet was as compact and convenient would be of interest to manufacturers and venture capitalists, for example. Concepts for doing business on the Internet are, sadly, usually neither able to be explained in this way, nor patentable in the UK.
Hi,
Date for your diary!
And we have access to case studies about inventors from throughout the North West.
So if you’re after for added and targeted editorial value just say the word and we’ll delve a little deeper!
Cheers,
Richard
Richard Glynn
0161 408 2648
07881 953406
WHAT’S ON: North West Inventors’ Expo 2008 Saturday March 29th, Blackburn, Lancashire.
Event details:
North West Inventors’ Expo 2008
Sponsored by Get Set
Organised by Ideas North West
Saturday 29th March 10 am-5 pm
Blackburn Technology Management Centre
Challenge Way
Blackburn
BB1 5QB
Lancashire-based innovation organisation Ideas North West is hosting its third annual North West Inventors’ Expo sponsored by Get Set on Saturday 29th March at the Blackburn Technology Management Centre.
The event follows on from last year’s success when more than 200 inventors and members of the public packed into the Expo. Visitors came from around the region including Manchester, Liverpool, Preston, Blackburn - and as far North as Cumbria. Like last year, visitors will enjoy opportunities to network, listen to presentations and exchange the latest advice and information.
For more information exhibitors and delegates can visit the website www.ideasnorthwest.co.uk or contact Paul White on 01254 692692 or email paul.white@blackburn.gov.uk.
ID0019
ENDS
Notes for editors
• For more information, interview or filming opportunities or copies of last year’s pictures please contact Richard Glynn by emailing richard@thebuzzfactory.co.uk or calling 0161 408 2548 or 07881 9053406.
• Ideas North West Members and expo exhibitors are at various stages of development of a range of fascinating inventions. Request a case study which is relevant to your region, locality or sector and we will do our best to find what you’re looking for.
• Directions to the Blackburn technology Management Centre
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ie=UTF8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&dq=Technology+Management+Centre+loc:+Blackburn&daddr=Challenge+Wy,+Blackburn,+BB1+5QB&geocode=1106125705247978958,53.759878,-2.453607&f=d&ll=53.759878,-2.453607&spn=0.003165,0.008583&z=17&om=0
Posted by: Richard Glynn | 05 February 2008 at 10:21