Copyright & Patents/Expert Profile

Expertise

U.S. Patent Law only, no copyright or trademark qualification. I was a volunteer in the past, but my homeland defense activities pulled me away at times, and I was dropped. If you want me back, I am willing to come back.

Experience in the area

Thirty one years as a Registered U.S. Patent Agent and a lifetime in product and manufacturing process and methods development as well as sales and marketing of new products with a number of blue chip corporations.

Organizations

Rotary, Society of Automotive Engineers, American Army Aviation Association, Registered Professional Engineer, St. Vincent De Paul Society, Indiana Guard Reserve Officer

Publications

Various Society of Manufacturing Engineers & Society of Automotive Engineers technical publications. Ref. my web site: http://www.evansville.net/biz/patagent

Education/Credentials

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (Machine Design Option), L.S.U., Baton Rouge, Louisiana; M.S. in Mechanical Engineering (Heat Transfer and Thermodynamics Option), University of Missouri at Rolla, Missouri, Helicopter Maintenance Course, 18 weeks, Ft. Sill Army Aviation School, Troop Information and Education Leadership Course, Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, Numerous Society of Automotive Engineers Seminars, Dale Carnegie Management Training Instructors Course.

Awards and Honors

Bausch & Lomb Science Award, Indiana Homeland Defense Service Ribbon, 2003.

Something interesting about this subject that others may not know:

If you grant an exclusive license to your invention, the IRS treats the revenue as a capital gain, as opposed to ordinary income (which is taxed at a higher rate) per section 1235 of the U.S. tax code. This is different than copyright revenues, so many accountants & CPA's are not aware of this.

Something controversial or provocative about this subject

Mailing your idea to yourself provides no protection whatsoever. It assumes a court would find you were smart enough to be the inventor but too dumb to know how to send yourself an empty, sealed envelope to get the date stamped, then steam it open later & insert a description of your idea.