Clive Adams asks: How do I find out if an idea has been patented? Is it possible to patent an “idea”?
James Dyson: Protecting an invention in the UK is a lengthy and sometimes expensive process. However, don’t let that put you off — patents are essential.
As a first step, try a simple online search if you know what you’re looking for. Or contact the British Library — they have a really helpful business and intellectual property centre.
You’ll then need to work on differentiating your idea, focusing on obvious improvements. Patents should be defined as something which could not have been devised by “one skilled in the art”.
As to whether you can patent an “idea”, theoretically you can — but you must be able to show how it would work and be tested. Build a simple rig to prove the principle.
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George Rolph asks: What if I’ve spotted a flaw in an existing device but lack the engineering expertise to re-design it?
James Dyson: It sounds as if you’re halfway there. You may not have specific engineering skills but you have an engineer’s mentality.
That could be an advantage as, unconstrained by conventional wisdom, you may be able to see a different way of solving a problem.
Some of the best ideas come from seeing things from another angle. The problem of cracking walnuts on an industrial scale without damaging the nut was solved when someone suggested bursting shells from the inside. Vacuum pressure is now used to expand the air inside, breaking the shell but leaving the nut intact.
To cite Einstein: imagination is more important than knowledge.
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Justin Scaniglia asks: What’s the best way for someone who has a good idea but not much capital to successfully take an idea to market?
James Dyson: An idea is free but developing it will take time and resources. Then you have the cost of patents — the only way to prevent people ripping you off.
The big decision is whether you make the product yourself or enlist a manufacturer. Either way, take time to get the details right. You’ll end up with a better long-term product, less susceptible to problems later on.
You sound like you really believe in your invention — so get others to believe in it, too.
Ian Lotinsky asks: In short, are there any honest and successful venture capitalists or angel investors who have connections with the right people? I come from the Internet start-up world. Does Dyson or some other reputable inventor have a good firm who welcomes new inventors and helps them succeed?
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James Dyson: Having connections with the “right” people can be helpful – but it can also be a hazard. It means that once you begin to discuss your work, there is an immediate risk of your venture becoming someone else’s adventure. Giving each other inspiration is one thing: taking advantage of that trust is quite another.
The thing that puts me off venture capitalists is that their aims tend to be different to our aims as inventors. The motivation of the investor is to make a quick buck; that of the inventor is to make something that lasts the course.
Identify someone that is willing to invest in you, your potential and way of thinking. After five years trawling around trying to find an investor for my idea, it was eventually my high street bank, Lloyds, who part-financed its manufacture.
If you do talk with a company about your idea, proceed with caution: confidentiality is a minefield for both parties. There’s no off-the-record. If your idea is not legally protected it is vulnerable.
If you want advice on how to come up with that big idea in the first place, then you can ask James Dyson. Send your questions to eureka@thetimes.co.uk and we will publish the best ones in the January issue.