[Sam Barona]

http://www.patenttoolkit.co.za/ this is a patent kit that basically uses templates similar to the ones that IP attorneys use. Cost: 2,000 Rand = USD 200.

On top of that you have your filing fees, which you can find at: http://www.uspto.gov/ you can get these cut by 50% by claiming that you are an independent inventor.

The part that will take the most time is the search, as you have to look under areas that cover each part of your invention, which tend to be under multiple areas.

Copyright offers you zero protection; as all another company has to do is to change the badge.

A patent is your best option since, if you dont have one, you dont have anything of value to those that you approach for partnerships, licensing deals, etc. You just have an idea and they dont have to (and WONT) pay for it.

One of the ways that you can achieve better protection with a patent, which is what the best IP attorneys use, is drafting patent claims that are broad enough to make your invention something that other people should license while making the claims narrow enough to establish the invention's unique and useful nature.

Once you have more funds available, you can patent each individual and unique part of the invention; this offers the best type of protection than an overall patent. This is what the inventor of the Dyson vacuum did and its proved great to create an IP wall that have protected his market very effectively.

The value of what you may have is not in the idea, but in the exclusivity over the idea that you may have secured through a patent; if you dont have this, companies dont have to do business with you at all. They can develop your idea and keep 100% of the proceeds.

HAving said all of this, you will probably find that your idea has already been patented. THe only way you will find out is by doing a search, which is free, but time consuming.

Good luck

[Sam Barona]

BTW. if you release it into the public domain, you will lose everything. No one can patent it, for sure, but everyone can develop it; and since you dont have the funds to do this, you wont see a dime.

[techbiz]

You might want to have a lawyer involved with your patent (which can cost a lot), but considering the fact that if you created your product without a patent, you could lose millions when it is duplicated, I think it is worth it. After you got a pretty top-notch patent lawyer it would probably run you several thousand (7000?) dollars.