Is a patent app a product killer?
noonespecial: I discovered a patent application filed in 2002 that definitely encompasses the concept of my product.Only one? Look harder, you should be able to find dozens, all overlapping and contradicting each other.Can he even license it before a patent is granted?Anyone can license anything at any time. Its just an agreement not to sue. Of course, it won't help you if any of the other bazzilion people who think its their brilliant idea decide to sue, as the one thing that never seems to be offered along with generously taking your money is any kind of indemnity.In short, it would have been better not to look. Forget you saw it and just do your thing. What you produce at the end will probably be so different than what you set out to, it won't matter anyway. If you do become successful, a long line will form of people who claim you've stolen their idea. You'll have a legal staff to deal with it by then.Of course, I'm not a lawyer. A real lawyer would probably snort whatever he was drinking out his nose upon hearing advice like this...