It can't be easy these days bringing new product ideas and concepts to the market I would imagine?
I'm not unique and special enough to be able to dream up new inventions sadly.
But recently I became aware of something known in the US patent sector as Prior Art:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prior_artHowever a recent experience made me question the validity of certain individuals claims/intentions (in the USA) who use Prior Art as a way of leverage against somebody else applying for a patent.
Basically a guy in America had produced a couple of sketchup drawings of a flimsy cabinet with a Perspex front to sit over a wood cutting mitre saw to control dust being inhaled by the user. He then submitted the two sketchup designs to YouTube and spammed a couple of Forums about what he had done with links to his videos.
He had not actually proved to anyone (with photos or video) that he had produced a prototype of any kind.
So there was no data to show that this cabinet could live up to his claims, it seemed purely theoretical.
A few people gave critique of the design and how impractical it was (which looked like something resurrected from 30 years ago) to which the guy then replied that he was an engineer with a PHD and a Lawyer with his own Patent Office?
Then his next reply was that he will test it out one day and that he would be using his 3 forum posts as "Prior Art".
So I'm just wondering if in the future if someone actually takes the time to design, test and produce something similar that is actually useable that this shark will challenge their patent in order to receive a payoff or a commission citing his Prior Art of the idea.
Just struck me that the whole episode has a bad taste about it.