Why I dont' patent my circuits

Every time I tell someone I have this cool new circuit they say "better patent it". I am so sick of hearing that - I know they mean well but they don't realize what they are really saying they want me to do. They are suggesting that I be antagonistic legalistic and confrontational in my business practices because a patent doesn't protect your intellectual property (IP), it just gives the the right to take legal action to that end. So basically a patent gives you the right to be ruthless in a cut-throat business world. A grim perspective indeed.

I can't tell you all the grief and anguish I have had with the USPTO over the years. In fact I'm sitting on a hot patent right now, a light to heat converter with far-reaching applications in industry including the printing industry, circuit board manufacture, cancer treatment, and sight for the blind tools. Do I patent it? Heck no! That would involve an endless stream of money from myself to lawyers, money that I really dont' have anyway. That would involve wrestling with the USPTO which is basically an antagonistic organization Hell bent on denying your patent applications rather than helping you to get your patents. And that would involve slowing down the introduction of this idea into the marketplace where it can really do some good for somebody. It's a callous, cold, and selfish act when you think of it, to grab some IP like a child grasping his ball and saying "Mine!".

And what is this way cool invention that has industrial applications and helps the blind to "see"? If I'm not patenting it and I want it to do the most good in the world, why not describe it here? Tell you what, I will do exactly that in another article.

In fact, I think I'll add some interesting content to this web page by sharing things of this nature. I guess I ranted a little and didn't get to all the points I wanted to make about the nemesis of the USPTO and the evil nature of patents in general, but hey I can always come back and add to this article. See the articles page for more topics like this, including a description of the light to heat converter.