To patent a new ketchup bottle design and potentially sell it to Heinz, one should first document the idea and get it notarized to establish a date. While hiring a patent attorney can cost around $20,000, doing it yourself or using an inexperienced attorney may lead to costly litigation later. A patent must meet three criteria: it must be new, useful, and non-obvious. After obtaining a patent, one can negotiate licensing fees with interested companies, although major brands like Heinz may not be interested unless the idea is exceptionally compelling. It's crucial to avoid public disclosure of the idea before filing for a patent, as this can disqualify the application. The discussion also humorously touches on various spellings of "ketchup" and includes light-hearted banter about unrelated topics, but the main focus remains on the patenting process and the challenges of pitching ideas to established companies.
Was the bike okay?!