See:
http://www.publicdomainideas.org/index.php/Main_Page
QUOTE "Public Domain Ideas (PDI) is a place where ideas and inventions
can be submitted to the public domain. It's like open-source software,
but for ideas instead of code. Once an idea is submitted to PDI, it
immediately goes into the public domain and cannot be patented. That
means anyone is free to develop the concept without fear of litigation,
and without having to pay licensing fees."
There is an FAQ here.
I assume these people know what they're talking about, but I wouldn't
know. I've heard that all you need to do to put something in the public
domain is "publish" it. The definition of publishing has been in flux
lately. As I said, after you publish it you have one year to apply for
patent. Other people cannot apply.
I do not think the invention has to be viable, tested, or even
physically possible. That's what the FAQ says. QUOTE:
. . . You can also add detail to other people's ideas and inventions;
the more detail you add, the more intellectual property (IP) goes into
the public domain, and harder it is for anyone to patent and control the
idea.
Q: Why does PDI work?
A: United States patent law states that an invention cannot be patented
if it has previously been "described in a printed publication." In the
USPTO's own words, "If the invention has been described in a printed
publication anywhere in the world, or if it was known or used by others
in this country before the date that the applicant made his/her
invention, a patent cannot be obtained." Since documents appearing on
the internet are considered by the USPTO to be "printed material," ideas
and inventions described here are explicitly placed into the public
domain and cannot be patented.
- Jed
