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Not completely related, but do you know if hardware kickstarters typically have any IP protection? I'm surprised there haven't been any cases of large companies creating patents for ideas from kickstarter at least that I've seen

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One cannot (or at least, one is not supposed to be able to) patent someone else's invention.

You theoretically have a year before you even have to apply- but patents are expressly "first to file."

Public use of an idea still prevents someone else from patenting it.

Sounds like You're conflating sale of a product prior to filing with "prior art"

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