Question
I would like to demonstrate parts of my software product to a larger number of potential customers and investors at a conference. While the software is running directly on the machine, the spectators would only see a GUI prototype that illustrates some features of the software. Would this be a public activity in the sense that the software becomes prior art and I could not protect it as Intellectual Property?
Answers: 2 public & 0 private
In Canada and U.S., you get a 1 year grace period to file your patent application. So, you can do a demo and still file for patents in Canada and US within one year of the demo date. Most other jurisdictions (e.g., Europe) do not have this 1 year grace period. I would consider filing a provisional patent application in the US before doing the demo. The filing fee for a provisional is $65. You can either file the provisional yourself or hire a Patent Agent to do it for you. Patent Agent fees for filing a provisional will range from $2k-$4k. But that could vary based on the complexity of the invention.
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