Non-software patents similar to the open source license?
By Yahoo User • Category: Do I Need It To Patent?Suppose I have a green energy idea that can benefit the human kind when it is implemented. Suppose it works. I do not necessarily want to benefit from it materially but rather want the public to use it without any private company monopolizing the design. Can I file an “Open source” - like patent? Do I just post the idea on the internet? File a regular patent that expires in 1 month?How about other companies that would want to file their private patents on top of this public patent? Will they be able to do so ? Can it be required that, like with open source license, anyone who makes further designs has to contribute them back to public? Put in other words: what is the best way to set up incentives so that the idea is picked up, implemented, built on top of, but not abused by some private party? What legal tools are available to an individual with not a lot of money?Thanks.
Your idea is commendable, however, Read the sections in this website it should answer most of your questions. Unfortunately there is now way you can keep improvementst to your idea from being patented as any invention can be patented.
You place it in the “Public Domain”…. that works for music and written works as well….