Subj : Re: Protecting your code
To   : comp.programming
From : mr_reznat
Date : Tue Aug 02 2005 06:03 am

ECRIA's comments regarding patents are generally correct, but a few
details not quite right.

As ECRIA wrote, if you are interested in filing a patent application,
take a look at the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) web site or
contact a registered patent attorney or patent agent.  A directory of
patent attorneys and patent agents is available on the USPTO web site.


Note that USPTO fees for filing a patent application and pursuing it
through to an issued patent are typically about $2000; and only about
2/3rds of all patent applications result in issued patents.  If you use
a patent attorney or a patent agent, legal fees can be an additional
$5000 to $10,000.

Also a patent, like a copyright or a trademark, essentially just gives
you the right to sue someone else for using your intellectual property.
 You need to enforce your own intellectual property rights by
negotiating or taking the other party to court.

.