Take a deep dive with Stephen Key: https://www.inventright.com/deepdive
What do patents do? How do they stop people from stealing your invention? That's what patents do, right — you need a patent to protect your invention, right? No, not really. It's a little more complicated than that. Patents can have value, but it has nothing to do with stopping anyone.

Speaking from personal experience with the patent system, licensing expert and IP strategist Stephen Key explains why patents don't stop or protect people from stealing your invention. It's the truth! Stephen explains how he got worked around by talented engineers, which is fair game. Watching patent attorneys argue about words taught Steve that ownership was more of a slippery slope, because the meaning of words are interpreted differently by different people at different times.

Stephen also gets into why prior art, which includes patents and publications, is a complicating factor as well. He also describes the powerful nature of innovation, which is that it never stops! He also touches on workarounds, variations, the danger of crowdfunding, and copycats. These are all realities and obstacles of the modern entrepreneur! Learn what you actually need to establish and maintain ownership of your ideas.

Then Stephen offers his best tips for protecting your ideas that do not include patents.

Learn more about why patents don't stop people from stealing your inventions: https://www.forbes.com/sites/stephenk...

Bringing an invention to market? Let inventRight, the world's leading experts on product licensing, show you how. Cofounded by Stephen Key and Andrew Krauss in 1999, inventRight has since helped people from more than 60 countries license their ideas for products. Visit http://www.inventright.com for more information and to become their student.

Call #1-800-701-7993 to set up an appointment with Andrew or another member of the inventRight team to discuss how we can help you license your ideas.

New to licensing? Read inventRight cofounder Stephen Key’s bestselling book “One Simple Idea: Turn Your Dreams Into a Licensing Goldmine While Letting Others Do the Work.” Find it here: http://amzn.to/1LGotjB.

Want to learn how to license your product ideas without a patent? Stephen's book “Sell Your Ideas With or Without a Patent” explains exactly how. Find it here: http://amzn.to/1T1dOU2.

Determined to become a professional inventor? Read Stephen's new book "Become a Professional Inventor: The Insider's Guide to Companies Looking For Ideas": https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/165...

inventRight, LLC. is not a law firm and does not provide legal, patent, trademark, or copyright advice. Please exercise caution when evaluating any information, including but not limited to business opportunities; links to news stories; links to services, products, or other websites. No endorsements are issued by inventRight, LLC., expressed or implied. Depiction of any trademarks/logos does not represent endorsement of inventRight, LLC, its services, or products by the trademark owner. All trademarks are registered trademarks of their respective companies.