Need help finding a company that can refabricate metal.

[Tristan Lall]

Originally Posted by Leav

but they used that drawing in a commercial way! the omni-wheel may be considered to be a derivative work of the initial drawing! (?)

In the sense of a CC licence, "derivative work" means taking a CC-protected creative work and using parts of it in some other creative work—like using a CC-protected photo in a collage.

It doesn't apply to interpreting the information, and building something based upon it—like using a photograph of a bird as the basis for your own statue. (There are some cases where this isn't quite true, like when you're copying artistic details, but that's highly subjective, and has to be decided in court.)

[vincefitzgerald]

i need this so i can pay for college
im hoping to get into college

[artdutra04]

Originally Posted by vincefitzgerald

i need this so i can pay for college
im hoping to get into college

It can cost up to $10,000 to get a patent when you factor in patent lawyer fees and other related costs.

And if you are looking to use this to get into college, just use this invention when you apply for all kinds of scholarships, especially any of the ones for science/technology available through FIRST.

I won a $4k one-time scholarship for innovation and creativity when I wrote the essay about how I went about designing and programming my Vex holonomic drive robot (which at the time was one of the first holonomic drive Vex robots). And a lot of my work with robotics was most likely a contributing factor in other scholarships I've won.

It's a lot "safer" of an investment to spend hours and hours filling out all those scholarship essays that it would be to patent an omni-wheel design. Especially if the patent doesn't work out, such as if it is too much like existing patented or public domain designs. (Not that I'm discouraging you from patenting it if you believe you are on to something).

[dtengineering]

Originally Posted by vincefitzgerald

i need this so i can pay for college
im hoping to get into college

Remember that patents don't make money... they cost money.

It is the business based on that patent, or the licensing revenue generated by that patent that makes money.

If you don't have a business plan, or have a manufacturer wanting to license and market your product, then you don't have a revenue stream.

University researchers are placed in a similar situation when they make a discovery... if there is a business case then they can pursue profit through patenting... but if there is not a solid business case for their discovery/invention then they publish their design, share it with the community, and receive recognition for their contribution to advancing the state of the art.

I think you got some very, very good advice above when it was suggested that you use this as part of the basis for scholarship applications.... unless you can reasonably foresee sales of your design generating revenue in the tens of thousands of dollars, a patent is likely to cost you more than it will earn you.

Jason

[vincefitzgerald]

i will take that into account thanks

[vincefitzgerald]

Andy Mark is interesed in buying my design
i am really considering selling it
should i ???????

[Billfred]

Having dealt with Andy and Mark for several seasons, I can tell you that they are definitely Good People.

That said, I still advise you to read the terms of the offer carefully, consult the appropriate professionals if need be, and judge for yourself.

[Chris Fultz]

Your last post beat me to it

I was going to suggest that you try to seel / license your idea to someone who already makes robot parts for FIRST - they would know from experience what will work.

And,as a side note, the US patent process is not only expensive but it is also a slow process - mainly to be sure what you are patenting is really new and novel. My last patent, which was managed by corporate patent attorneys, took well over 12 months from application to actual patent.

[vincefitzgerald]

i know they are good people
thats why i went to them
thanks though

[vincefitzgerald]

wat usually happens when u sell ur design???

[Jared Russell]

Originally Posted by vincefitzgerald

wat usually happens when u sell ur design???

You will most likely sign a contract with the vendor. The terms of the contract vary, although typically a few things will be addressed.

1. Compensation. You can either be paid a fee for the design, or possibly a small percentage of each product sold. Usually on a small scale like this, the first option is easier for everyone.

2. Property. When you let a company build your design, you have one of two options. First, you sell the rights to the design to the company. That means that it is no longer yours - the company now has the right to sell or alter the design. Or, you can license your design. The company can manufacture the product and sell it, but you still retain your design rights and can sell it to other parties. There are also some options in between. You will usually get better compensation by selling the design, but you lose out on any later income sources.

3. Liability. This doesn't really apply to an omni-wheel, but in the real world it's a big deal. If someone gets hurt, or damages property, with your product, who is at fault? Usually there is some sort of clause to protect one or both parties.

Like I said, I would think that a one-time compensation would make the most sense. And whether or not you should sell or license your design depends on (1) what your vendor (AndyMark in this case) is willing to do and (2) whether you feel your product will generate enough interest in other markets.

[Jared Russell]

Also, like other posters have said, do not worry about a patent. You don't want to put yourself through that unless you have $10,000 and two years to burn, or you truly think you're onto a million dollar idea.

You can try putting a license on your IP, but I don't really know of a license that would protect a physical device (only the drawings, etc.).

[vincefitzgerald]

i now need help with scholarships and money for college
anyone know anygood scholarships? i
really need them.
thank u