Utility Patents May Protect Old Products With A New Twist
By Amy E. Feldman
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Why would a cell phone company patent an idea to prevent cell phone usage?
Verizon Communications submitted a Patent Application last month, which is entitled System and Method for Preventing Driver Use of a Mobile Device. The technology establishes a link to a mobile device within a car and then prevents its use if the device is in the car while the car is moving. And yet, cell phones already exist, as do cell phone blockers.
So how do you patent something that isn't exactly new?
While some patents are issued for entirely new devices, technologies, or other inventions, the US Patent and Trademark Office says that 90 percent of patents are what are called utility patents - protection for products that don't have new components but that are new processes in the way the technology is used, new manufacturing methods, or improvements on existing products.
If you have a way to build a better mousetrap or any other improvement, go to USPTO for information on how to patent your idea.
Until Verizon's patent comes through though, the older, less improved way will just have to do. Say to your kids: text while driving and I'll ground you.
