Proving date of a sketch
Discussion
First of all just to state there is no malice in this question and I am not trying to get money from a company or trying to trip them up in any way.
I worked for a particular company from 2015 to 2018 as the head of a technical department. The company is an international business but I worked purely for the U.K. part.
This year the company has launched a new product that is quite innovative. I have seen it and realised that I came up with the idea whilst I was working for them so I found it quite flattering that the idea has actually now been developed and come to market.
There are people who worked for me during my tenure that that are claiming credit for the design which is fair enough as it would be awkward for them to state it was an ex employee who came up with the idea.
Anyway yesterday whilst moving stuff out of a room in preparation for decorating I came across an old note book with a sketch in it for the very design!
My question, is it scientifically possible to date the pencil sketch?
I have no intention of doing so as there is no real point. But just wondered out of interest.
Whilst I was at the company my contract stated that any ideas I had during my time there belonged to the company anyway so nothing to pursue.
I worked for a particular company from 2015 to 2018 as the head of a technical department. The company is an international business but I worked purely for the U.K. part.
This year the company has launched a new product that is quite innovative. I have seen it and realised that I came up with the idea whilst I was working for them so I found it quite flattering that the idea has actually now been developed and come to market.
There are people who worked for me during my tenure that that are claiming credit for the design which is fair enough as it would be awkward for them to state it was an ex employee who came up with the idea.
Anyway yesterday whilst moving stuff out of a room in preparation for decorating I came across an old note book with a sketch in it for the very design!
My question, is it scientifically possible to date the pencil sketch?
I have no intention of doing so as there is no real point. But just wondered out of interest.
Whilst I was at the company my contract stated that any ideas I had during my time there belonged to the company anyway so nothing to pursue.
I am sure there are others with more knowledge on this than I.
Proving “prior art” is fraught with difficulties – on both sides. I was informed (probably incorrectly), the cheapest way of doing this is - post it to a patent attorney, or at the very least one’s solicitor, and ask them to keep it on file. Whether this would hold up in court – who knows? I doubt it.
On balance, I would take it as a positive thing that your idea had genuine commercial merits, 90%+ of them don't. Then come up with something else.
It’s a topic I find fascinating, as I have some ideas of my own. I know others who have been royally stitched over too.
Here’ a one of 6 my uncle did…
https://patents.google.com/patent/GB2130060B
And he never made a penny from any of them.
Proving “prior art” is fraught with difficulties – on both sides. I was informed (probably incorrectly), the cheapest way of doing this is - post it to a patent attorney, or at the very least one’s solicitor, and ask them to keep it on file. Whether this would hold up in court – who knows? I doubt it.
On balance, I would take it as a positive thing that your idea had genuine commercial merits, 90%+ of them don't. Then come up with something else.
It’s a topic I find fascinating, as I have some ideas of my own. I know others who have been royally stitched over too.
Here’ a one of 6 my uncle did…
https://patents.google.com/patent/GB2130060B
And he never made a penny from any of them.
Bright Halo said:
This year the company has launched a new product that is quite innovative. I have seen it and realised that I came up with the idea whilst I was working for them...
Find out where their next exhibition is, then go and stand next to their stand with a sandwich board saying 'I designed this!'If you are after recognition, then you could always ask them if you could be added as one of the inventors to the patent?
Like you, the contracts where I have worked stated that my ideas belonged to them, ie the company. Although there isn’t any financial benefit, it’s nice to be listed as an inventor.
Like you, the contracts where I have worked stated that my ideas belonged to them, ie the company. Although there isn’t any financial benefit, it’s nice to be listed as an inventor.
Edited by Mr Fix It on Thursday 7th November 23:42
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