Why a “Poor Man’s Patent” Doesn’t Work
I was talking with a friend a few months ago who was telling me all about their idea for an app they wanted to develop. When I warned them about the possibility of people ripping them off if they shared the idea too much they confidently retorted, “Don’t worry, I filed a poor man’s patent!”
Confused, they explained the method of writing the idea on a piece of paper, placing it in an addressed envelope to themselves, and mailing it. The idea is that the sealed envelope is dated and sent through the federal mailing system, creating the ability to hold up in court if the idea ownership is disputed between parties. I have heard of this method before in Art School with book ideas, comic idea, you name it.
I was a big dubious of this practice, and sure enough, after some research, I came to learn that this was an old wives tale. The concept has some validity to it before 2013, but has now become a “first to the patent office” and not “first to invent”. Patents are expensive, so before you dive into your pile of coins like Scrooge McDuck, we highly suggest a patent search to make the process cheaper, faster, and much smoother. There are ways you can search yourself, but professional patent searchers are invaluable.
No matter what, you want to make sure your one-of-a-kind ideas are protected, and that’s what a patent is there to do. You don’t want to cut corners or shortcuts that won’t pay out in the end. This isn’t to make the inventor’s job harder or more difficult, it’s in place to protect you in the off chance that someone tries to copy your idea. So even if it’s a chore, and seems like a waste of money, protect yourself and your ideas. Your future self will thank you.