I have an idea for an electronic device i think will be in use in many areas globally. i wish to protect this?

any ideas as to how i can do this profesioannly and cheaply. thanks

An idea is "intellectual property" and very hard and expensive to protect.
It is much easier to make a prototype and apply for a worldwide patent on the device.

you can patent an idea. not just an actual prototype. but be prepared to invest about 300 dollars if my prices are correct.

You need to tread very carefully, there are various levels of protection, patent and / or copy write you can get. If you are looking Internationally this is no mean feat and it is certainly not cheap.

If you are convinced this is such a good and a unique invention then you need to protect your idea before others can legally copy it. Get professional advice, it's costly but if you feel the invention is worth money then you have to pay to protect the idea properly.

Cheaply? If it can be used in many areas globally, why is money an object? You are going to be rich!

If you are in the United States seek the help of a Patent Lawyer or Patent Agent. A patent agent can prepare, file and "prosecute" a patent application for you and all other things being equal, will probably charge less than a patent attorney (because the agent isn't an attorney). However, you will later need the assistance of a lawyer to deal with any legal issues (contracts, licenses etc).

There is a Roster or Attorneys and Agents available from:
www.uspto.gov

If you want to protect it globally, be prepared to spend A LOT MORE...be sure to mention that early on to the attorney or agent....not everyone is an expert in the International issues.

It can be searched by zip code or city name....

It will not be cheap. Plan on spending 5 to 10K initially... and another 5 to 10K over the prosecution period...wherein the PTO will reject your application and arguments and amendments will have to be drafted and submitted....

There are huge differences in the way that patent laws work, even among Western nations.

In the US, you can patent things like "business methods" and "software".

In Europe (including the UK), you can only patent "inventions", so you have to demonstrate that you've got a physical device, not just a concept, and software can't be patented. (We submit circuit diagrams with our applications).

In the US, you can use your invention for one year in public, and provided you put in your patent application by the anniversary, that's fine. In Europe, if you "disclose" your invention (other than to an employee or business partner under a signed non-disclosure agreement), then the device is no longer patentable, and YOUR OWN use counts as "prior art" against it.

However, in the UK, you can make an "initial application" which describes the device, but not the "claims" (the novel bits you are looking to protect) for free... and you then have a year to submit the "claims" bit, which costs money.

As I understand things, countries that subscribe to WIPO (the World Intellectual Property Organisation) rules will accept an initial filing date in ONE country as a valid date for all the others... so you can file in your own country first, and only worry about applying for international patents once your invention is rolling out and you have the cash coming in.

Global filing can be horrendously expensive, by the way, of the order of $1 million-$20 million depending on the complexity. Hence, most people pick own country first, and roll out protection elsewhere only when it's proved.

UK patent office is now on
http://www.ipo.gov.uk/