OKLAHOMA CITY -- Your bright idea may just have to wait. Oklahoma inventors are finding a backlog when trying to get a federal patent on their inventions. Patented inventions can ignite the economy by creating demand for products and jobs. However, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has very little manpower to examine up to 400,000 applications a year. To stay afloat, they rely on money coming from those with the ideas.
Inventors like George Huggins, who has waited for five years on patents for his trailer alarm system and tailgate loading ramp.
"I'd like to get my patents before I die," Huggins says. "Everybody says 'how old are you?' I say 'I'm over 80 fellas. I'm a World War Two vet, and I think the government owes me, at least, to get me my patents before I die."
So how long does it take to get an idea patented?
"We're telling people anywhere from five to eight years," says Douglas Sorocco, a patent attorney with Dunlap Codding.
Codding says the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is backlogged because of an increase in filings, coupled with declining funding.
He says the Patent Office relies on fees, not government subsidy. So just to get an idea filed, an inventor will pay a thousand dollars.
It's freezing innovation and not helping the economy.
"People don't hire," Sorroco says. "They're not doing anything to put that product on the market because they can't have that assurance that they're going to have that market exclusivity."
Since it costs so much to file a patent, Sorroco says applications are actually down this year. That means less revenue for the U.S. Patent Office.
Huggins got a patent on his portable "Tote-um-Table" in the late 80's.
For his 21st century ideas, he'll just have to wait.
"Four or five years to get a patent is ridiculous," he's says.
Contact KFOR News directly by clicking here if you would like to submit a news story tip or suggestion.
Copyright 2009 KFOR-TV-DT. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Inventors like George Huggins, who has waited for five years on patents for his trailer alarm system and tailgate loading ramp.
"I'd like to get my patents before I die," Huggins says. "Everybody says 'how old are you?' I say 'I'm over 80 fellas. I'm a World War Two vet, and I think the government owes me, at least, to get me my patents before I die."
So how long does it take to get an idea patented?
"We're telling people anywhere from five to eight years," says Douglas Sorocco, a patent attorney with Dunlap Codding.
Codding says the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is backlogged because of an increase in filings, coupled with declining funding.
He says the Patent Office relies on fees, not government subsidy. So just to get an idea filed, an inventor will pay a thousand dollars.
It's freezing innovation and not helping the economy.
"People don't hire," Sorroco says. "They're not doing anything to put that product on the market because they can't have that assurance that they're going to have that market exclusivity."
Since it costs so much to file a patent, Sorroco says applications are actually down this year. That means less revenue for the U.S. Patent Office.
Huggins got a patent on his portable "Tote-um-Table" in the late 80's.
For his 21st century ideas, he'll just have to wait.
"Four or five years to get a patent is ridiculous," he's says.
Contact KFOR News directly by clicking here if you would like to submit a news story tip or suggestion.
Copyright 2009 KFOR-TV-DT. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
