Should I Publish Or Patent?

BorgeStrand writes 'Patenting is an expensive process, even coming up with some sort of proof that your idea is unique (and thereby try to attract financing) may be prohibitive for the lone inventor. So what do you folks out there do when you come up with a good idea but don't have the means to patent it or market it to someone who will pay for the patenting process? And how much sense does it really make for the lone inventor to patent something? Would it make more sense to publish the whole idea, and make it (and my inventive brainpower) up for grabs? If my ideas are indeed valuable, what is the best way to gain anything from them without investing too much financially? What is your experience?'

come on

[nomadic]

This is slashdot, all patents are evil, and the most profitable thing for you to do would be to to let everyone know the details, and let them all build whatever it is you invented. That way, it gets worked on by different people in an open source way and you get a better ultimate product. And somehow you profit from that. I'm still trying to figure out that last part, but if a million slashdotters say something it can't be wrong.

Tell Me

[Anonymous Coward]

Simply tell me what your patentable idea is and I'll take care of everything for you.

Re:come on

[oldspewey]

I'm still trying to figure out that last part,

I believe the standard notation for this is a single line containing three question marks.

Re:Tell Me

[mh1997]

Simply tell me what your patentable idea is and I'll take care of everything for you.

Also, a working prototype would be helpful.