Patents in the Usa and China

Ideas are incredibly valuable. The suggestion to patent an idea, or keep the idea a secret, is probably not a surprise. But why would anyone publish a valuable idea? To understand why publishing is advantageous, one must first understand the reasons to patent or keep secret an idea.

The patent makes the idea more valuable because the patent holder has a legal monopoly. Patents can also be used to ward off patent infringement lawsuits.

The biggest drawback to a patent, besides cost, is that one must disclose the idea to get the patent. Like keeping an idea secret, publishing is essentially free. Like a patent, publishing also protects by preventing others from patenting the idea.

If an inventor doesn't file for a patent on the idea within a year of its publication, the idea becomes part of the public domain.

If you don't patent or keep secret an idea, you should publish it. Someone will have your idea soon. Ideas that you don't patent should be published to prevent others patenting that same idea and perhaps latter suing you.

Publishing an idea is easy. There are many differences between China and United States Patent Systems.