I saw a link to one of my pages on this site. Some comments:
1. No, a patent search does not cost $10,000 although an infringmenet opinion or validity opinion can run that much. Most attorneys charge $500 to $1000 or so for a basic patentability search.
2. You cannot infringe a Patent that has not issued. The claims published in an application are not the claims that will necessarily issue - if they ever issue.
3. Even once issued, trying to analyze claim infringement by amateurs is a risky sport. Armchair claim analysis is invariably WRONG. Patent claims are often not as broad as they initially appear.
4. If you released this 40 days ago, you have one year from the date of first public use, sale, offer for sale, or publication, to get your patent on file (the "bar date") keep that date in mind. You may have already voided overseas rights.
5. Business method and internet business method patents are getting unusual scrutiny from the USPTO these days. So expect a long wait and extra costs to prosecute one of these Patents.
1. No, a patent search does not cost $10,000 although an infringmenet opinion or validity opinion can run that much. Most attorneys charge $500 to $1000 or so for a basic patentability search.
2. You cannot infringe a Patent that has not issued. The claims published in an application are not the claims that will necessarily issue - if they ever issue.
3. Even once issued, trying to analyze claim infringement by amateurs is a risky sport. Armchair claim analysis is invariably WRONG. Patent claims are often not as broad as they initially appear.
4. If you released this 40 days ago, you have one year from the date of first public use, sale, offer for sale, or publication, to get your patent on file (the "bar date") keep that date in mind. You may have already voided overseas rights.
5. Business method and internet business method patents are getting unusual scrutiny from the USPTO these days. So expect a long wait and extra costs to prosecute one of these Patents.
Good luck with your project in any event.