** This thread discusses the content article: Magic Patents - Protecting a Magical Idea **

A nice basic introduction to an important subject that many magicians
conspicuously fail to understand. My only negative comment is that this article
deals purely with the situation in the USA. Magic is not constrained within
national boundaries, it is found all over the world. If you are interested in
protecting magical innovations it is therefore important to appreciate how
intellectual property is dealt with in other countries and in international law.

This was a great article. The is one flaw in it; this only applies to the U.S.
There are companies (I am sure you know them) that are not in the U.S. that
steals ideas, produces them overseas and charges a lot less that its American
counterpart.
I have invented and patented 14 ideas (props) all but 1 was stolen
by a maker of magic and of course they sell theirs far less than I could, that's
why I no longer make them.

I think it\'s a good idea to patent magic even though it can be stolen. It provides more protection than without a patent. It is still not very secure because just a quick visit to the patents website can expose an idea. That\'s my two cents.

drewer wrote:

I think it\'s a good idea to patent magic even though it can be stolen. It provides more protection than without a patent. It is still not very secure because just a quick visit to the patents website can expose an idea. That\'s my two cents.

The trouble is the expense of obtaining the patent and also the cost of enforcing any patent rights you may have. It simply may not be worth it.

Yea I guess there really isn\'t any real solution to this problem.