In this episode, hosts Samar Shah and Jamie Brophy tackle a question every inventor faces: What’s the difference between an idea and an invention—and when is it ready for a patent?
What you’ll learn in this episode:
Why ideas aren’t patentable—but inventions are.
Patents don’t protect vague concepts or “what ifs.” They require concrete details. Samar and Jamie explain the legal and practical reasons behind this rule and why it matters for inventors.
The key concept of “reduction to practice.”
Turning an idea into an invention means more than sketching a lightbulb moment. You’ll learn how prototypes, engineering drawings, and technical details shift your concept into patentable territory.
The role of enablement.
The law requires that someone “skilled in the art” could make and use your invention based on your disclosure. The hosts unpack this standard in plain English and show what’s “enough detail” to cross the line.
Examples that bring the concept to life.
From da Vinci’s flying machines to the Wright brothers’ airplane, and from “a toothbrush that cleans teeth by itself” to actual electric toothbrushes—you’ll see how history and modern examples illustrate the fine line between idea and invention.
When to file a provisional patent application.
Filing too early leaves you vulnerable; filing too late means lost protection. Samar and Jamie share practical guidance on when inventors should take the provisional step.
Common mistakes inventors make.
From filing on vague “room-cleaning robots” to skipping critical details like power, tolerances, or mechanisms, the hosts break down the errors that cost inventors valuable protection.
Why this matters:
The difference between an idea and an invention determines whether your patent application gets granted—or rejected. Understanding this distinction can save you thousands in wasted filings and put you on the right path to protecting your IP.
This episode is designed to simplify complex patent law concepts into practical, real-world advice that every independent inventor, startup founder, and entrepreneur can use.
Chapter 1: Introduction & Why This Matters
Hosts Samar Shah and Jamie Brophy set the stage by clarifying why the idea vs. invention distinction is critical—not just wordplay, but a legal dividing line that determines patentability.
Chapter 2: Why Ideas Aren’t Patentable
Explore the legal rules that exclude vague concepts and “what ifs” from patent protection.
Chapter 3: Reduction to Practice
Understand the crucial step that turns a brainstorm into a patentable invention, whether on paper or in prototype form.
Chapter 4: Historical Example
From Leonardo da Vinci’s early flying sketches to the Wright brothers’ functioning airplane, see how abstract ideas become protectable inventions.
Chapter 5: Modern Example: The Toothbrush
A relatable case study on how an “automatic tooth-cleaning device” moves from abstract concept to concrete, patent-ready invention.
Chapter 6: Enablement Standard
Break down the requirement that someone “skilled in the art” must be able to build your invention from your patent disclosure.
Chapter 7: Provisional Filing Timing
Learn when to take the provisional step, balancing risk of filing too early vs. too late.
Chapter 8: Common Mistakes Inventors Make
From filing on vague robots to skipping key parameters like power ranges, discover pitfalls that weaken protection.
Chapter 9: Practical Takeaways
Samar and Jamie share real-world advice for inventors and founders on how to avoid wasted filings and protect innovation strategically.
Chapter 10: Conclusion & Disclaimer
Final reflections, a call for listener questions, and a reminder that the episode is educational—not legal advice.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.