节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2012-10-05
难易度:Medium
关键字:patent, patent, invention, application, concept
OK. I hope you had a great break.
Welcome back.
The word "patent" comes from Latin.
And it meant to lay open or to make available for public inspection.
This definition highlights an important benefit of patents.
And that is when the public can see and study someone else's new idea or
invention,
what results is progress, the advancement of science and technology.
OK. Let's get back into the reading about how patents work down on line 10.
(Music).
All About Patents.
This contributes knowledge that helps other inventors improve on their own
research.
A patent usually lasts about 20 years.
The first step to getting a patent is the application.
The person applying must name the invention, explain its use and describe it
clearly.
The invention must be practical and contain some new characteristic - something
that hasn't been seen or used before.
But not everything "new" can be patented.
Many countries don't allow patents on things like new concepts, scientific
theories, medical procedures or substances already found in nature.
Friends, if you have a good idea on an invention, it's a good idea to first
patent it so that other people will not steal your idea.
But if you do file for a patent, you need to reveal, or show, some information
about your invention.
That's right.
Ryan, good job using both the verb and the noun form of the word "patent."
That's kind of confusing.
But friends, you can figure this out.
OK. Now if you do file for a patent and reveal information on it,
then that contributes knowledge that helps other inventors improve on their own
research.
OK. So if you have the right to a brand new idea, so no one can copy or sell it
without your permission, but they can take that idea and build on it.
And that's how it's going to help the research in that field continue to grow.
It gives a base line or what's next so that somebody else's new idea, new
invention can grow from your already established ideas.
Yeah. And that is what an inventor is, someone who has that idea.
And so there is the invention, the new product being made.
And the inventor, the person that made it.
OK. So we want to help progress research.
Now a patent usually lasts about 20 years.
We said patents give you the right to something for a certain amount of time.
So it's usually 20 years.
Uh huh.
In fact, Kaylah, I have a little bit of knowledge for you here.
Did you know that patents used to last a lot shorter than that?
But because of Mickey Mouse from Disney, they extended it longer and longer to
keep him patented.
Wow! That's incredible.
Yeah. So now it lasts about 20 years long.
And that protects your idea for 20 years.
OK. So what happens at the end of 20 years?
Well, then other people can use your idea or sell your invention without talking
to the inventor.
OK. Well, so we know it's lasting 20 years.
We know it happens at the end of it.
But how we get started?
What is the first step?
All right.
Now the first step here is to get the application for your patent.
That's right.
The first step to getting a patent is an application.
Now an "application" is an official request to get something or for something,
usually in writing.
You might recognize application for when you apply to school or for a new job.
Yeah. You're hoping to get something and so you must first tell them that you
want it.
That is what an application does.
Now the person who is applying - that means giving an application - they must
name the invention and explain its use and then describe it very clearly.
OK. So you need to get the application.
And on the application, you need to have a name for your new idea and describe
it very well.
You can't just say: Oh, it helps collect chicken eggs.
You need to tell us how it would work, what's the process.
The more details the better.
Exactly. And Kaylah, you will see later in this article some failed patent ideas
that don't really follow these rules very well.
And they're actually quite funny.
OK. Well, we're looking forward to that.
But first, let's keep going through how we do... what's the best way to apply
for patents.
All right.
Now the invention that you want to patent must be practical and it must contain
some new characteristics.
OK. It needs to be practical.
"Practical" means it's useful.
It has a good purpose.
It's needed.
It's not something that's just random that nobody wants or needs.
Yeah, practical means it is useful.
So it must have a use.
And here we see, Kaylah, it needs to have a unique characteristic.
"Unique" means it is special.
It's individual.
And a "characteristic" describes a part of something.
So you need to have something that has never been used or seen before.
That's what makes it a new invention.
Yeah. It needs to be completely new, not just a different way of doing the same
thing that someone might already have a patent on.
That's right.
It hasn't been seen or used.
But not everything "new" can be patented.
That's right.
Many countries don't allow patents on things like new concepts.
OK. A "concept" is a principal or an idea.
I'm sorry, friends, you cannot patent an idea.
That's right, such as scientific theories.
If you have a theory - which is an idea on how something works - that is
scientific, you can't patent it.
Also, medical procedures, the way that you help people get better.
Or substances already found in nature because, well, they're nature's.
They're not your unique characteristic, your new idea.
Nature has it.
It's not yours.
So these are examples of things you can not patent.
But we have examples of strange patents and good patents later.
That's right.
Join us tomorrow.
But right now, friends, let's watch the skit.
Hey, what are you doing?
I just invented something awesome.
Something awesome?
How awesome?
This invention is better than the iPhone.
Really?
This invention is better than a solar-powered car.
Really?
Yes... This is the best invention ever.
So tell me!
What did you invent?
It's a secret.
I can't tell anyone.
Someone might steal my idea.
Then I won't make any money.
Well, if you never tell anyone, you won't make any money either.
You're right.
So what should I do?
How can I protect my idea?
Patent it.
Patent it?
Yes. A patent gives you the right to your invention.
The right?
Yeah. No one can copy or sell your idea without your agreement.
Oh. Then I need a patent.
Yeah. A patent will help you.
You'll get credit for your work.
Of course, I want credit.
It's my idea.
A patent will also help others advance in the field.
They can learn from your design.
Great.
So what's the first step?
Fill out an application.
Name the invention and explain how to use it.
I'll do that right away.
Good!
Oh. And be sure to describe it clearly.
The invention must be practical and contain something new.
Don't worry.
This invention is practical and new.
It's the best invention ever.
Oh, please, please tell me.
What's your invention?
OK. Here it is.
I call it the electric tissue box.
Isn't it great?
Oh, the electric tissue box...
Yeah.
Hi, everyone. I'm Michelle.
(Chinese).
And I guess we're running out of time.
I'll see you tomorrow.
Bye-bye.
Thank you, Michelle.
We appreciate those tips.
Now as we mentioned, patents are given not always for something new but for an
improvement on an idea or an invention that already exists.
There's a story that back in 1977, a man came up with an idea to combine the
technology of a video camera with that of a tape recorder,
two separate technologies that had already been around for years.
The improvement on these two inventions became the new invention what we now
know as the "camcorder." OK, friends.
We'll pick up the rest of our lesson about patents tomorrow.
Until then, I hope you have an awesome day.
Take care.