Once or twice a year, I get a call from someone who wants to get a patent. They saw some cool product while they were traveling and would like to a get a patent on the product in the U.S.

You can’t. In order to get a patent, you have to be an inventor. If you did not invent it, you cannot get a patent on it. You could avoid telling the Patent and Trademark Office that you did not really invent it. Of course, that would be fraud. Your patent would be worthless and you may get sued over it. If you see something cool overseas - buy it. Import it if you want. Just don’t try to get a patent on another person’s invention.

This blog post is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice or as pertaining to specific factual situations. Consult with an attorney concerning your own needs and circumstances and to obtain any legal advice with respect to the topics discussed in this post.