NEW iphone gadget

[paulb]

Hi,
I am currently developing a new iphone gadget. I have already completed the drawings and seem to have quite a bit interest from magazines as well as friends and colleges.

Although I have read Tims book and find it a great resource of information. Currently though I am struggling to get people to make prototypes for me. Basically I have decided that I should make the prototype in the UK(Where I live) because of potential communication issues. So therefore I need someone in the UK to make a couple prototypes for me and then I can get them mass produced elsewhere. Well thats my plan anyway : )

Also theres the issues of intellectual property. I recently visited inventright.com and naively thought I could get the information to get a provisional patent. I couldnt find anything! How can I protect myself quickly and cheap from within the UK.

Can someone please help me out.

[TheBaker]

Have you tried here for patent info?

http://www.ipo.gov.uk/patent.htm

Good luck.

[Stallion]

I don't know much about Apple, just that they enjoying suing everyone, but do you have their blessing to do this?

Just again, I apologize if I don't know what I'm talking about. I've never been a fan of Apple and I always thought Apple controlled everything(IE: no third party software)

[Gypsy]

I don't know much about Apple, just that they enjoying suing everyone, but do you have their blessing to do this?

Just again, I apologize if I don't know what I'm talking about. I've never been a fan of Apple and I always thought Apple controlled everything(IE: no third party software)

Stallion -

You are correct, this has been the case for the iPhone platform. With the new launch of the 2.0 firmware and upgraded hardware for the iPhone platform, Apple has (wisely, in my opinion) opened the development up to third party developers. There is soon-to-be an Application Store section on iTunes for the distribution of these 3rd party apps, which means Apple still gets to QC what is installed on the iPhone.

If this is a hardware gadget and not software, you can make anything for anything as long as you don't infringe existing copyrights. I believe that in the past, this has been successfully argued on Apple's side for naming your product "iProduct," though I'd have to look it up. If you want to directly brand it towards the iPod/iPhone, you'll need to work something out with Apple. If you want to say, "designed for mobile devices, including Apple's iPod and iPhone!", you're fine.

[dking]

If this is software, why not outsource to americans? The GBP/USD spread is wide enough that the ability to communicate in English is a plus.

[Tommy]

lol, sad but true. the pound is worth 2x the dollar. the US is the new india!

[paulb]

Thanks for all your responses.

Good point dking about the dollar. Surely there must be some Tax or someone to pay if you need a service or product. Otherwise everybody would be doing it.

Also does someone know of a company that can make me a few prototypes of either metal or plastic?