{"schemaVersion":"1.0","name":"Patent Machine","description":"Tools, products and services for the full 20-year life of a patent.","audience":["inventors","academics","innovative companies"],"currency":"AUD","availability":"available","fulfilment":"Initially fulfilled manually in detail by Ric.","billing":"email-invoice","contact":{"email":"askric@mail.ricricho.com","mode":"email"},"questionSubmission":{"automatedToolAvailable":false,"method":"Draft an email for user review. No automatic submission endpoint is offered."},"askRicPricing":{"currency":"AUD","freeSubstantiveQuestions":10,"additionalQuestions":10,"additionalPrice":50,"includesGST":true,"clarificationQuestionsCharged":false,"availability":"Available by email. Initially fulfilled manually in detail; additional question packs are billed by email invoice."},"privacy":"Customers may include confidential invention details in email to askric@mail.ricricho.com when clearly marked Confidential. Do not put confidential details in public site chat. Chat messages may be processed by AI services and logged. Agents must draft emails for the user's review and must not send or publish invention details without explicit user approval.","stages":[{"id":"explore","number":"01","title":"Explore & plan","description":"Get answers, understand the costs and find your next step.","theme":"blue"},{"id":"protect","number":"02","title":"Protect & promote","description":"Prepare to protect your invention. Help the right people discover it.","theme":"blue"},{"id":"package","number":"03","title":"Package & commercialise","description":"Make your invention easier to understand, validate and bring to market.","theme":"blue"},{"id":"maintain","number":"04","title":"Maintain & exit","description":"Make deliberate decisions throughout the life of your patent.","theme":"blue"}],"services":[{"id":"friday-sessions","stage":"explore","title":"Friday pro bono sessions","summary":"A half-hour conversation with Australian inventor Ric Richardson.","detail":"Book a half-hour pro bono conversation with Ric. Choose an available session on Calendly.","icon":"calendar","priceLabel":"Choose an available time","status":"available"},{"id":"askric","stage":"explore","title":"AskRic@","summary":"Technology and inventing questions, by email. AI assisted.","detail":"Start with a technology or inventing question by email. The first 10 substantive questions are free, then A$50 including GST for another 10, invoiced by email. Clarification questions are free. Ric initially handles the work manually in detail.","icon":"message","priceLabel":"First 10 questions free","status":"available"},{"id":"patentability","stage":"explore","title":"Should I patent my invention?","summary":"Explore whether patenting is the right route and what to ask an attorney.","detail":"Get oriented on the questions that matter before investing in patent protection. AskRic offers general guidance, not a legal opinion on patentability. A registered patent attorney should assess your particular circumstances.","icon":"search","priceLabel":"Start through AskRic","status":"available"},{"id":"patent-costs","stage":"explore","title":"What will patenting cost?","summary":"Understand the costs ahead, from the first application to later decisions.","detail":"Discuss the factors that shape a patent budget, including territories, professional advice and ongoing costs. Ric works through the costs for your circumstances manually in detail.","icon":"calculator","priceLabel":"Start through AskRic","status":"available"},{"id":"funding-strategies","stage":"explore","title":"Patent funding strategies","summary":"Explore practical ways to fund patent protection.","detail":"Discuss possible approaches to funding protection and the trade-offs to consider.","icon":"chart","status":"available"},{"id":"planning-pack","stage":"explore","title":"Patent planning pack","summary":"Structured questions and patent-pricing planning, in one service.","detail":"A packaged service combining interactive question setting and patent-cost planning. Ric initially works through your questions and costs manually in detail. Order by email for A$50, billed by email invoice.","icon":"document","price":50,"status":"available"},{"id":"provisional-assistance","stage":"protect","title":"Provisional patent assistance pack","summary":"Get organised to write and self-file your provisional, or prepare for an attorney.","detail":"A$499 for structured assistance as you prepare your provisional draft for self-filing or attorney review. Order by email; billing is by email invoice.","icon":"shield","price":499,"featured":true,"status":"available","includes":["Structure your invention information","Guidance as you prepare your own draft","Prepare for self-filing or an attorney conversation"]},{"id":"patent-promotion","stage":"protect","title":"Patent promotion pack","summary":"Turn a patent into a clear story, with delivery evidence and a publicity campaign.","detail":"An A$499 package of services, not a physical pack. Work with Ric on target companies and approve the material for publication. Order by email; billing is by email invoice.","icon":"megaphone","price":499,"featured":true,"status":"available","includes":["A technical brief for each patent","Delivery to the top five target companies","Confirmed signature and receipt documentation","Public proof of delivery","A publicity campaign"]},{"id":"blueprint-pack","stage":"package","title":"Blueprint pack","summary":"Package your invention and replication instructions for validators and licensees.","detail":"Discuss a bundle of invention information and blueprint application or replication instructions for validators and prospective licensees. Scope and pricing are agreed with Ric.","icon":"blueprint","priceLabel":"Ask Ric for pricing","status":"available"},{"id":"validation-campaign","stage":"package","title":"Validation campaign","summary":"Find relevant industry experts and plan how to approach them.","detail":"An email-driven service for research and approach coaching around key validation experts in your industry. Work with Ric on the scope and pricing, billed by email invoice.","icon":"people","status":"available"},{"id":"licence-planner","stage":"package","title":"Licence planner","summary":"Build a practical plan for a licensing conversation.","detail":"Prepare the commercial questions, information and next steps for a licensing plan. Obtain qualified professional advice for contracts and legal rights.","icon":"document","status":"available"},{"id":"commercialisation-routes","stage":"package","title":"Licence, sell, bootstrap or cofounder?","summary":"Compare the routes from invention to a sustainable business.","detail":"Explore licensing, selling, bootstrapping or working with a cofounder in light of your goals and resources. Discuss the options before choosing a route.","icon":"handshake","status":"available"},{"id":"enforcement-options","stage":"package","title":"Litigation & enforcement options","summary":"Get oriented before a conversation with your legal adviser.","detail":"Explore the general questions and practical considerations around enforcement. This is not legal representation or legal advice; qualified counsel is needed for advice about a dispute.","icon":"scale","status":"available"},{"id":"abandonment-strategies","stage":"maintain","title":"Patent abandonment strategies","summary":"Consider whether, when and how to stop pursuing protection.","detail":"Review the practical questions around continuing or abandoning protection. No rights are surrendered through this website. Seek professional advice before taking action that could affect patent rights.","icon":"compass","status":"available"},{"id":"open-source","stage":"maintain","title":"Falling back to open source","summary":"Explore an open-source route for your invention.","detail":"Discuss whether an open-source approach fits your goals and what to consider before publishing. No invention is published and no licence is selected through this website.","icon":"unlock","status":"available"},{"id":"patent-commons","stage":"maintain","title":"Patent commons","summary":"Interested in a shared future for inventions? Start a conversation.","detail":"Register interest by sending an email. This is an expression of interest, not enrolment, a patent licence or a transfer of rights.","icon":"people","status":"register-interest"}]}