Level Up: Protecting Property
The Capital Foundation of New York connects you with experts to answer all your questions. Have a question? Send us a note!
Question from Peter, Albany, NY:
”I’ve got a really cool invention, and I’ve made some drawings and started working on a prototype. I don’t know what to do next, and I don’t want anyone to steal my idea. Do you have advice on next steps?“
Answer from Steve Ackerman, Ackerman Saile:
“It's great that you have come up with an invention, and it's smart to be concerned about someone else stealing your idea. Pursuing protection by obtaining a patent is the most likely approach. It would be best to find a patent attorney to discuss next steps, and the discussion should include the costs and timeline for obtaining patent protection, why a patentability search is a good idea, and the importance of getting a patent application filed before you disclose your idea to any third party. You'll also want to start thinking about how you might produce, market, and sell a product that includes your invention, and how to finance the costs of starting a business and paying for the patent process. As an alternative to selling the product yourself, you may consider just obtaining a patent and finding someone else to make and sell the product, though this has its own challenges.”
About Steve: Stephen Ackerman is an Attorney at Saile Ackerman law firm based in Poughkeepsie, NY. His areas of practice include intellectual property, patents and trademarks and his professional affiliations include the American Intellectual Property Law Association, American Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association. He graduated from Pace University School of Law in White Plains, New York. He also received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.