I thought of a (multi-million dollar idea). The problem is the key item required was patented 7 years ago...?

You have an idea, but the key element is patented and your idea is mentioned in the patent. You'll not be able to get a patent since it's not novel and inventive and there is nothing stopping the owners of the patent application to put it into use themselves. Maybe you've made some improvements to this ideas and your thing would work better, than maybe you can do something with it, but if it is basically what they describe in their patent I don't think you could do anything with it.

You can always go to the owners of the patnet with a proposal, but they could just go ahead with your idea without your permission because in fact it was already their idea.

Get yourself a patents attorney and see if it flies. If there is a conflict, the patents office will not issue you a patent. If they do, you are good to go. As far as I know, a possible use and a way to implement that use are two different things.

Work out a deal with the original patent owner to incorporate their product into your idea. If they have it patented, and are not using it, I'm sure they are ready to make some money too.

p.s. Don't forget me when you get rich.

Try to contact the owner of the patent. Then tell him/her your ideas. Make an offer if you want to buy the patent first. Otherwise, propose a joint venture utilizing his idea and your marketing efforts.

I would trademark your idea first so that the rights are exclusively yours and then speak to the company who hold the patent for the part you need and you should be able to work out a deal with them

this might get a extra helpful reaction interior the employer area. i think of you may desire to touch a patent lawyer or possibly the Citizen's suggestion Bureau as a generic step as they could leaf by using patent regulation for you and supply you loose suggestion on that. you will get 0.5 an hour loose with a lawyer interior the united kingdom, so possibly he/she would be in a position to bypass for the duration of the legalities of increasing on a cutting-edge patent in case you desire to bypass that way. you additionally can touch the Businesslink on your area and get some help from them. they could desire to have an consultant on their books who has labored with innovations and knows patent regulation, or will comprehend the thank you to define somebody knowledgeable in that area who materials you extra suggestion. good success.

find out who owns the patent and chase them up, asking if you can use their idea?

or make a bargain with them, ask them for permission to use the item in return for x% of the profits

just dont tell them EXACTLY what the idea is or they will say no and then use your idea to get money for themselves

Contact a Patent attorney and discuss it... quickly

contact the patent owner

and work something out

otherwise you run the risk of being sued.

you might be forced into a partnership.

I agree with the others, get a patent attorney. They can do all the legwork for you.