Improving someone's invention

bebe

Hi, All, I use this company's multiple item for long time which is on the market, but one of the item needs improvement so that the mass can have choices. I can image my improved product will be a great alternative for the customers and it is good for the company also because the customers still have to buy the company's other products to go with it. so the question is can I patent their improved version of item and produce then put it out on the market or I have to go to the company directly with the prototype and talk to them. please help.

AriannaPhillips

Of course you can. In fact, most granted patents in an invention are improvement patents. In an improvement patent you must add something to an existing product, find technology that will be incorporated to the old one or find a new use of the existing invention.