I want to purchase the patents of consumer products.Where can I find
these owners? (I already tried e bay type auctions) Any help is
appreciated.

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Request for Question Clarification by omnivorous-ga on 24 Aug 2004 07:23 PDT

US --

First, researchers don't know in which country you're located.  If
you're in the U.S., have you tried the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
yet?

Best regards,

Omnivorous-GA

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 24 Aug 2004 07:41 PDT

Bear in mind that consumer products rarely have a single patent or
patent-holder, but are composed of numerous components, each with its
own set of patents.  A computer, for instance, probably represents
many thousands of such patents, and even a simple item like a take-out
coffee cup can be covered by quite a number of patents.

But ominvourous-ga is correct -- If you're interested in info on US
patents, then the USPTO is the place to go.

pafalafa-ga

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Clarification of Question by universitystudent-ga on 24 Aug 2004 08:52 PDT

I AM A RESIDENT OF THE USA.
IS THERE A WEBSITE WHERE I CAN PURCHASE PATENTS OF PRODUCTS FROM
OWNERS ? I VISITED THE US GOVT PATENT OFFICE WEBSITE AND IT IS VERY
COMPLEX AND THEY DO NOT OFFER A MARKET PLACE WHERE I CAN BUY THE
RIGHTS TO THE PATENTS FROM INVENTORS .

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Request for Question Clarification by omnivorous-ga on 24 Aug 2004 09:44 PDT

US --

The reason that the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office was suggested was
that it shows the patent owner, assignee and often the legal firm
representing either the owner or assignee.  Any patents are likely to
be licensed -- not purchased.  The licenses are likely to cover very
specific uses, which makes it difficult to create an e-Bay style
market (though one can never doubt the ingenuity of clever Americans).

Best regards,

Omnivorous-GA

Hi universitystudent~

Like copyrights (see your question:
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=391536 ), it's
unlikely that patent holders would want to give up their rights. They
stand to make much more off their inventions if they hang on to their
rights and market them, than they do if they sell them outright.

Kriswrite

To purchase or license a patent:
1.  go to USPTO web site, click "eBusiness", click "search assignment"
2.  type in the "patent number" or other information of the patent you
are interested in purchasing/licensing.
3.  You will be given the name of the assignee (owner), and patent law
firm representing the client.
4.  contact either person/company and begin negotiating.