Anyone ever gotten a patent?

[bassin54]

Just wondering round about the price to get a patent on a lure. I have designed one that I think would be marketable and have done some checking and it sounds like around $10,000 is what it takes to get everything going for the patent. Is that close or am I way off, high or low?
Also, any advice from anyone that has any success designing and selling lures or baits? Like next step to take after obtaining a patent, things like that. Thanks.

[beast96z]

Just be careful that your bait is not a infringement on anyone else's bait. I know Karu spent a lot of money on patents and then got shut down by lawsuits. I remember him saying a patent was around 10k.


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[Buzbait88]

I'm not sure what a patent costs, but I do recall hearing about 10K before though.

Just be careful that your bait is not a infringement on anyone else's bait. I know Karu spent a lot of money on patents and then got shut down by lawsuits. I remember him saying a patent was around 10k.


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I'm not sure you have your facts straight.  Only bait that Karu had a patent on was the vibraspin and it wasn't an infringement and lawsuits weren't the reason Karu isn't around anymore.

[E5Zero]

You are probably about right on the $10K, that is a number I have heard before.  But I also was told you better have the cash to defend a patent, that is where it gets expensive.

In the oilfield I have several I have gotten through companies I worked for or with on a contract basis. 

Good luck with you idea.

[hornytoader]

The problem i see in spending all that money on a patent is , all a bait company has to do is make one small change in the bait design to make it legal and sell as their brand name and very hard for the "little guy" to compete with them. I have a bait right now that my buddies have to me that I need to patent but not going to waste my money on trying to get a patent to have someone else capitalize on my idea. My opinion is to maybe sell your baits to local bait shops. Just look at all the companies that copied the "senko" soft stick bait. Just my personal opinion.

[Muzzyman1]

Cheap Patton= I heard authors will do this with manuscripts..

Take pictures and a drawing of the bait and maybe even a bait itself.
Go to the post office and certify mail it to yourself.
Don't open it. You now have a dated certified mail copy to prove when you made it.. It is good in court..

[Ron Fogelson]

I'm not sure you have your facts straight.  Only bait that Karu had a patent on was the vibraspin and it wasn't an infringement and lawsuits weren't the reason Karu isn't around anymore.

KaRu did spend the $$$ on having the patent put on the vibraspin but were then a target of potential infringement legal action.

In their patent it's worded that any lure with a blade in front of it that vibrates  Funny that they got turned down for 7 years or so and then one day got 2 or 3 patents 

I've got football heads with free S/S guitar picks with every order Hahahaha  Fogy is right, I can't fight corporate America. Just waiting to see what Strike King and Booyah are going to do. I hope they beat them at there own game. I'm more than 20% different but don't have the cash to prove it 

They sent me a copy of their patent which includes many drawings of different blade designs. I have a more than 15% difference in my design so I'm not infringing upon their patent. Problem is you need $$$ and lots of it to prove it.

Now Zman has a 2nd win under their belt and IMHO they are looking for a 3rd before going after the big bait makers.  See below from Wired2fish 

Z-Man Fishing reached a settlement agreement with Joe Renosky and Renosky Lures in its lawsuit involving patent and trade dress infringement. This is the second successful defense of the Z-Man Fishing patents on the popular ChatterBait line of fishing lures.

Last June, U.S District Judge Richard M. Gergel ruled that Renosky unlawfully infringed on a patent covering Z-Man's ChatterBait bladed swim jig. In lieu of going to trial in federal court, Renosky admitted that it willfully infringed on Z-Man's bladed swim jig patent and registered trade dress on its hex-shaped ChatterBlade. The details of the settlement were not disclosed, but Z-Man spokesman acknowledged Renosky agreed to compensate Z-Man for lost sales. The court also issued an injuction stipulating Renosky may no longer sell a bladed swim jig that infringes on the Z-Man patent or any lure that incorporates a hex-shaped blade.

"We are extremely pleased with the settlement," said Z-Man President, Jonathan Zucker. "We've spent a lot of time and money developing the revolutionary ChatterBait® line. We've played by the rules, registered our patents, and done our very best to educate the industry about our patents and trademarks."

"Litigation is absolutely a last resort for us," added Z-Man General Manager and Executive Vice President, Daniel Nussbaum. "We've only brought two cases into the courts. In both instances, the companies involved were well aware of our intellectual property and purposefully and knowingly showed no respect for it. They really left us no choice."

"Our goal is not to disrupt any other company's business, so we hope that the industry pays closer attention to intellectual property law – especially as it relates to our patents and trademarks," Nussbaum said.

[Bountiful Waters]

10k for a patent if you try to do it yourself. You cannot begin to use a reputable law firm to pursue a patent for that little of money. The cheapest cost is the initial patent. The real cost begins protecting the patent from infringement.

[bassindude]

You need to think more about why you would want to patent.  If you plan to sell the rights then a povisional pantent would be the way to go.  Just dont let anyone know what is in the provisional when you try to sell the idea.  Make sure that they think it is very broad based, and dont tip your hand.  That way they normally wont go after your idea without cutting you in, because you may be able to take it all from them by following through with the patent.  If they do buy the idea, be sure that they are required to follow throw with your provisional and it goes in your name.  The length of the liscense is negotible as is the royalties you will recieve.   Provisionals are in the range of $100.

[bassindude]

Also if you plan to produce it yourself, being first to market will be more important, and you can still get the provisional patent, and if you do hit big youll have the money to defend it.  Also, make sure you have a huge inventory or the capability to produce quickly.  If you can't provide product you will have tipped your hand that you are not well funded, and someone will step in and provide the product, and may actually get the patent and cut you out.  Jim