Thread: Private energy research

What are the necessary steps to take to secure credit on completed energy research? A patent is not an option at this point because a few of the materials needed have been designated "military" such as a transparent material capable of withstanding up to 3000c. If you have a complete system/method worked out what is the proper way to release it?

Do you want financial credit, or academic kudos?

A patent is not an option at this point because a few of the materials needed have been designated "military" such as a transparent material capable of withstanding up to 3000c.

Please explain. How was the material designated military? Why does that prevent it from being patented? I am not familiar with this process.

I dont care about acedemic kudos but this is a practical facet of something much larger that I am not finished with. I want to maintain its integrity. I intend to use the financial gain to further this research and keep it private.

In order to apply for patent you need a working prototype, to build a prototype you need certain materials. The military uses transparent ceramics for covering of certain high-type sensors. Given the high temperature involved some of these materials could be used in containment components of nuclear research. Even if I could get my hands on the materials I would still be short of someone capable of working them into custom molds so a patent isnt really an option at this point.

Originally Posted by Permafrost

In order to apply for patent you need a working prototype...

False! You don't need a prototype to get a patent, at least not in the U.S. People patent all sorts of things that they have designed but haven't actually built.