I've patented a couple circuits in the past. I even actual sold one, but I'm embarassed to say for how much and how long it took.

I'd like hear any comments on selling or licensing IP you may have. Especially any pertaining to an indivisual inventor dealing with an electronics company.

Needless to say, I came up with an interesting circuit, but part of me wants to just pretend I didn't.

Thanks, and be nice.

Somebody please reply to me, even if you have to make something up.

Greetings yendori:

OK, I'll keep you company

So, what is the number for your patent? Anyone interested in looking it up for comment can do so here:

http://patft1.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/srchnum.htm

From what I read, most patents are never actually called upon to protect a product from infringement, so the inventors and inventions sit idly in the annals of the USPTO forever. However, with the newly created venue of patent auctions like the one in San Francisco, recently, where one inventor sold a patent for about $1.5M (most sold nothing), anything is possible. Of course, there is the personal satisfaction gained from having had an idea that someone considers to be worth protecting.

http://www.oceantomo.com/auctions.html

Most large companies like to collect patents to build an arsenal in case they ever have to go up against another company in court. Company A sifts through its stack of patents and threatens to sue Company B for infringement, but Company B sifts through its own stack of patents and finds one with which it can threaten to sue Company A, and both parties ultimately agree to ignore each other. The lawyers aren't happy about it, but the bean counters are.

I do not own any patents, and the way things are going, I probably never will. All that's left for me is to envy those who do. Good job!

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