Expert: Rene Hasekamp - 4/30/2011

Question
Dear sir,
Dear Sir,

I Need some help please.

I have solved the Usury (Riba) found in the Leverage for Forex, Shares, Oil, Gold in the Stock Market. (for Muslim people) It is used
most in Forex often and can be used in Shares and Items e.g. Oil, Gold, Silver ...etc

I am studying Islamic economy, and managed to solve this problem after
waiting for a 10 years !

My solution, is to use some steps e.g. do A, B, C then every thing is
OK = Leverage Forex is 100% Halal All of the non rate account founded
in Forex Corp. does have the Usury (Riba) in them, i also have a Link
that talk about that in english.

Can i patent this idea or not?
If yes, does it count as a business method patent? if this is yes,
then how can i patent it in all countries?
My country Lebanon is not yet part of Wipo? so should the patent been
done per country?
How much the cost to patent the idea in all countries? yes, the patent
is not complex.
Since the idea is not that complex, can the you help me out to but a
good patent draft so the patent can pass the exam test.

Yes, i also have another patent for solid items e.g. Gold, Oil, silver ...etc
I am talking about Islamic solution to solve the (how to received the
item before you sell it) = this part i have solved it ... but i am
still searching for the way the Real market use, so when i patent the
idea, it can give income quick, with small steps changes.

So, should i first go with the second patent, or first test the first one.

About the Forex i did search for it, but i could not find a patent for
it, or is it more than 1 patent.

Thanks for the help,
Mohammed Hakim

Note: here is some URL links about Forex, Leverage so you can know
what i am talking about.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_exchange_market
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leverage_(finance)

Answer
Hello,

Ideas and business systems are not patentable in most - if not all - countries. I believe that what you describe should be seen as a business system.

As for your further questions: Lebanon is a member of the Paris convention for patents. That is the important aspect of WIPO for patents.

Patents should be applied for every country you wish it to be valid separately. For Europe you can do this in one procedure but you still have to pay separately in every country. Some African countries have a similar system, if I am rightly informed.

A worldwide patents are very costly and I would not advise anybody but large Internationals to do this. You would have to be very certain to be able to earn a lot of money with it before you should apply worldwide.

As I said, I do not believe that what you want to patent is more than an idea or a business method, which definitely is not patentable.  

Hope this answers your questions.

Rene Hasekamp.