How do you get a patent on stuff?

[Shadeslayer]

OK so you can't patent a screen play... than whats it called? Publishing? My bro-in-law has the legal right to his story. What would you call that?

EDIT I just talked to him and he says he has it registered with the "Writers Guild".

[Limewater]

The whole "poor man's patent" thing is not true.

It will not hold up in court, as you didn't publicize your idea, but it is a government proof. Stop acting like you're some official or something.

That "government proof" means zilch if you want to keep others from using your idea.

The "poor man's patent" is essentially the same thing as a trade secret.

One could use documentary evidence of prior art to block someone else from patenting one's idea, but not to prevent someone else from using it.

Also, if one publicizes his idea and does not file for a patent within twelve months, then he cannot patent it. Or, in most countries other than the United States, if one publicizes his idea prior to applying for a patent then he cannot apply for a patent.

I am not pretending to be any sort of patent official. I just happen to know a few things about patents because I work in a field where lots of people eventually patent things. I attended a lecture just two weeks ago on the subject, so it is fresh in my mind.

@Ben: I don't know the bare minimum cost with which one could obtain a patent, but the average is somewhere around $13,000 or 14,000 in the US.