Patents on a website

tether

I'm launching a website soon and there are some things that it/I will do differently to the way existing sites do. I'd like to find out if any of this is patentable.

Where should I start looking to research this?

Dabko

tether wrote: »

I'm launching a website soon and there are some things that it/I will do differently to the way existing sites do. I'd like to find out if any of this is patentable.

Where should I start looking to research this?

Hello
If you are using some sort of technolgical applications that you have developed from scratch, i suppose you have a valid claim to protect the idea through a patent(s) (http://www.patentsoffice.ie/).

However, if you are implimenting an already existing idea or using an already developed piece of sortware in a different manner, you will have a very hard time stopping anyone coming along and copying it. I guess its just the law of the jungle.

random.stranger

You could likely claim copyright for your page and register a trademark for your brand, but as Dabko has stated- a patent would not be so easy. Any reputable patent attorney should give you an initial consultation free of charge, or you could alternatively contact the Irish Patents Office. I hear theyre very approachable and give good advice.

Good luck.

jhegarty

If such a thing was possible yahoo would be the only search engine , hotmail the only email site and ebay the only auction site.

antoinolachtnai

You might have a novel business method ('novelty' is what the patent examiners require to grant). You can patent a business method under US law (although not EU law).

This is not an inexpensive thing to do, but it is possible.

If you have a technical invention, it might be possible to patent it in europe.

The defensibility of any patent is always a lot more complicated than obtaining it. You might not be able to defend it for a variety of reasons. It might not be specific enough, or it might be too specific, or you might just not have enough money.

Remember a patent only gives you a right to stop other people doing something. It doesn't give you a right to do anything yourself.

jerryob

OP,
I use the Advanced Search tool on espacenet. I will not only give you an idea of what patents in your field have been granted, but you can also note the prior art as you come across it to strengthen your own patent.

Patentnav

Jerryob gave the best answer I think, just be sure you know it is new, espacenet, patentscope, Google Patent and USPTO have very good free patent search engines. A provisional patent application filed at the Irish Patent office could be filed asap to gain priority and it gives you 12 months to get things together. The UKIPO has an excellent online patent application system that costs £30.

tether

Thanks.

The software is developed specifically for my business, but similar software does exist elsewhere.

The difference is in a specific aspect of the business model. I felt that the ability to patent it was a bit of a long shot, but worth looking into anyway, and I'll follow up on those points.

Cheers.