Inventors...Has This Ever Happened to You?

Yes, this is very common.

Unfortunately I live in UK and the company lawyers have written in to contracts that any invention that the company can use becomes the property of the company. It also contains a clause that you must also do all in your power to help the company develo it even after you have left the company. (There is no mention of any payment for any time you spend on iy after you have left the company or retired). there is no mention of who pays if anything goes wrong.

Needless to say, hardly anybody invents things any more. You might be very lucky and get a mention on a patent (not usual in UK as this is in the company name). The last time I developed a seal for the company the contract manager did a deal with a fabricator who got a government prize and award to develop it further. this only came to light when he assembled the unit made from my drawings, and when doing a pressure test fired the stub shaft out of the seal like a projectile because he did not understand how it worked.

Needless to say I like many others are less enthusiastic about inventions. I am not sore about it.I make a lot of money now by using tried and tested technology and keeping away from anything that requires enthusiasm or risk, even though I believe I make a far smaller contribution. I just think it is a shame that there is no legal mechanism to reward the actual inventors (where the invention is beyond the normal scope of work or is highly significant) with a small token royalty as opposed to those who do not have the ideas. I think there is some such mechanism in the USA.

So the problems of the world could be solved if:

1) Terrible companies didn't steal patentable ideas from their employees - of course anything developed along the line of company business rightfully does belong to the company.

2) The patent office is at fault somehow.

3) Lack of funds prevents many from patenting ideas - of course it probably save people a lot of money as they don't apply for half-baked nonsense either.

4) The military didn't stifle inventions

5) If you have produced an item and sold it no one else can then patent it and make you stop using it. Providing you have proof that what you say is really so.

6) Bureaucrats are behind 99% of the worlds problems today.

Power napping will save mankind!

and to think you probably were being sarcastic.. but you have actually nailed it.

if you look at the money that was generated to help Haiti, (2 billion+) and how much actually made it through... well.. #6 is vividly true for me.

and we had a tremendous flow of creativity here on cr4 that could have solved so much.. (and some of which is actually coming to pass, thanks to other individuals)

chris

Ky,

I love your posts and the way your mind works, but dont insult me with the social conscience stuff, Im a - capitalist, a profitear, an unabashed opportunist, an will take any opening i can get thats legal.

I think this is what drives patentable ideas, money, fame, a chance to show your abilities, an opportunity to leave something behind after we are gone, and it is nice if it helps society in humanitarian ways, but if that was the sole objective more people would be like the "Maker Groups" that publish ideas to the world so the idea can not be then patented, (prior art principle).

I do not mean to be harsh to you Ky, you are brilliant, and funny, but I feel the world is a harsh place and that is the reality of it.

Spacecannon

GA Grasshopper,

and very wise.

thank you master.

I larned that one having kids.... being a parent.... part encouragement, part discipline.

give them motivating reasons to want to learn, grow, and be productive, and reasons to be afraid if they don't. (no not beatings... just relevant examples )

Time well spent equals paycheck in my world.

Some things I simply do, cause that's what I do.

I lie, you lie, we all cry for ice cream!

Spacecannon-

I could not agree more with the importance of travel as an element of education.

"dont just think out of the box, look under it."

I always knew the answer would be simple.

chris

I saw a lady card reader this afternoon (OK I lied). She told me that some friend will travel a long way to see me. She said that it would be wise to have some drinks for him on arrival. I have no idea what she could be on about but see what my dreams tell me

Patience is a word I forgot to mention. Ga's are as fair as they come. Don't worry about the spelling its only a messenger, it's the thought that counts and the deeds. Was that your second move?

patience is so important, I spent years leading out with my queen and usually getting clobbered, sometimes it was a quick win, but now I see the value in patience.

Sometimes ideas are ahead of their time and a market has to be made or a societies impression of a thing has to be changed, like hydrogen filled Zeplins.

Hi Spacecannon,

Bell and Marconi were successful capitalists while Meucci and Tesla were the great inventors.

Cheers

Vince

G'day Lynn

I have been searching for the "Maker Groups" you mentioned. I know of the principles of their approach and wanted to know more about them. Seems that I can't find anything related. Have you got a link I could follow up? It would be a nice tool in my bag if I knew more about them.

I searched for "Maker groups", "patent avoiding" and although it is Sunday here I have a lot on my plate and hate wasting time. Can you help me out? I would appreciate it, Ky.

Ky,

Sorry, that was a generality.

Try "make magazine" and makezine.com and steampunk and all related links.

These folks fabricate some of the most fabulous functional art.

Make magazine provides some wild inspiration for inventors and DIYers, and they build new and unique things, releaseing the process onto the web.

If only the magazine wasn't so expensive.

Spacecannon

Thanks

We were talking about two different things. I thought it was related to a group I heard of some time back. They just published their stuff and avoided any one from patenting by creating a prior art situation.

I will try and find them because it is a good concept, just need to know more about it. If I keep all to myself it's not going to help anyone and that is the main reason I am inventing, to find solutions to challenges which might help others.

Again, don't get me wrong, I am after some kind of reimbursement for my trouble but am looking for an alternative way in doing so. I thought they would have a formula I could scrutinize and follow, if it makes sense.

Thanks for the prompt reply, Ky.

This may not be exactly what you are looking for?

http://cr4.globalspec.com/comment/551405/Re-Who-s-Got-Any-Good-Ideas

a bit of automation couldn't hurt

I never marked it off topic. I noticed but when I tried to edit it gave me no choice. Don't know what happened there. Matters not much, maybe admin had a bad hair day. Whatever, Ky.

And I thought I was seeing things. When I saw your post first it was on topic and the next time I looked it was off topic. Whatever

Why are your comments now OT?

because I made them off topic by turning on the switch in the text editor.

(as my comments were not on topic) but you have to toggle it before you
press 'Preview Comment'

great thinking.

so you are saying, don't stop, regardless of finding it has been done? If it has come to mind, there is a reason, and the time might be right for that improvement?

thank you

ga.

chris

I'm also saying - there is nothing I have designed or invented that I could not "now" do better.

It's mostly because that innovation provided a new scope, so the next set of 'wants' emerge.

Or, solving that want 'then' - created this "new want now"

It follows; anyone can do anything 'then', better, 'now'.

But as said, (somewhere lately), identifying the 'now want' is step 1.

I'd say in the "doing donuts" link they didn't - so someone else (you) could.

It may not be you get "credit for inventing tracks" - but credit for "the best tracks yet" has some worth.

Never underestimate the user friendly aspect

or even the perception of easier to use.

easy to read documentation, help that is actually helpful, easy to follow troubleshooting

this requires the ability [or a very short memory] to look at what you have designed with fresh eyes

can you explain the big picture in a couple of sentences?

how many minutes of new information can you audience take in?

can you restrain the urge to launch into a 3 minute soliloquy about some minor point until the audience is ready?

'Terrible companies' sometimes patent ideas solely to keep their competitors from using those ideas. The ideas are never pursued and the patents are typically extremely broad. Larger companies will hire permanent legal teams to track, interpret and examine patents. They'll review the patent portfolio of companies they're buying. They'll threaten legal action against small companies.

I worked for one such entity. They purchased the small startup that I worked for. The small startup had one major patent coveted by the buyer. It not only commanded a good portion of the market share, but was difficult to get around. There were two companies that did, but their products were not nearly as easy to use. It was interesting to see the nuances that our competitors took advantage of to get their ideas to market.

It was also interesting to see the inner workings of the patent system in the larger company. As I said, any inventions we attempted to patent were described as loosely as possible so as to cover any possible attempt by competitors to patent similar ideas or go around the patent on a technicality. Our manager repeatedly handed us 'invention disclosure forms' so that we could document ideas right away. For any given project, early in the design phase, we'd get together and discuss possible patentable ideas that might go into the product or project we were working on.

What happens with the tracks when you go around corners?

well it is designed for slippery conditions... check out the video link I posted in the OP... you can see a service drilling rig doing donuts..

very insightful question. ga. slippage, one way or the other is the answer.

chris

Seems this company is using them for muddy or icy conditions only - for that it makes good sense.

On hard surfaces steerable hydraulic trailers as used for heavy cargoes would be far superior.

Happened to me once…

When I was younger, I was big into martial arts, but who wasn't as a kid. I was the step-kid though so I generally didn't get financing to fulfill my childhood desires… (i.e. taking martial arts lessons) so I had to settle for movies and books.

I'd mimic the technique in the movies and then read up on the reason behind it in books… one of the things that always stuck was how to maximize force with proper body motion and alignment. This one facet always stuck with me and for awhile it was an obsession to throw the perfect punch. I'd practice all the time on my friends heavy bag, trying to nail the perfect rotation rate of my joints.

Anyway, I then enlisted into the Army and I remember during an early 'smoke session' in Basic how I wish I were able to rotate my arms while doing pushups the same ways I do when throwing a punch.

When I got to my first duty station, Bad Kissegen West Germany, in 1985 I worked on building my first solution. I refined it by the time I got to my next duty station and used it consistently for about the next 4 years. After some neglect, it was no longer useable so I just threw it away.

I never occurred to me that I invented something, or that I should get a patent, until I was channel surfing one night and saw an infomercial for the Perfect Pushup… some 20+ years after I had the idea…

I chalked it up as one of the few 'Doh!' moments I've had in my life.

JavaHead

oh I saw those commercials..

you would think there would be venture capitalists knocking down doors saying "if you have a good idea, and are looking for turnkey solutions... just trust us...we can do it together...".. okay I guess they do exist... but who trusts them?

Chris

You have my sincere sympathy. As a child, I "invented" a sailboat with two hulls side-by-side, reasoning that this would make it more resistant to capsizing. It fell to my father, a veteran yachtsman and a member of the French 10-meter team in the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, to tell me that there was, ahem, some prior art, dating back perhaps a couple of millennia... and that I could call it a catamaran from now on.

Try another scenario:

A farmer modifies his planter for no-till seeding. The farmer never intended to patent or sell his modification, he was just trying to make things work better for himself for that season.

The owner of an implement dealership sees the modification and takes pictures.

The dealership owner shows the pics to an implement manufacturer.

The manufacturer makes, patents and sells the modified planter for $2500 more than the original.

5 years later the farmer tries to buy a new planter and sees his modification on the new ones. With no documentation to prove that he came up with the original design, he is forced to pay for something he is quite capable of making himself and has made before.

I have heard about this happening several times the most recent was in the late 1980s though.

If he makes the modification they are going to come after him?

Unless the name is JR Simplot or something like that I wouldn't think so. Maybe someone convinced themselves that they could not do it so didn't.

You can't buy a planter without this modification, it is now considered a standard part.

Simplot has a reputation for screwing their own customers but I don't think his hand was in this one.

Doubt it

You can make what ever you want for your own use

the trouble begins if you try to sell them

That is my understanding too - only a problem when you try to sell.

What I meant by JR Simplot is that there is enough money for a shyster to go after plus little guy against big usually means the little guy has sympathy.

A patented plant I know you can grow - just don't sell it. I knew people growing patented plants that were nearing the expiration date - they would use the plants to grow commercially once the patent expired.

No.

that must happen a lot... who knows.

ga.

chris

Hey farmatt,

I've been thinking about your post.

Are you positive there is no way to prove that you came up with the idea?

In the US it is first to invent, not first to patent, that has rights to an idea.

You would have to sue, just as you would if you had a patent, but you are entitled to a portion of any money being generated from your idea. (or all of it)

It may be a good idea to talk to a lawyer. Proof could come in the form of witnesses, receipts from the parts you bought to create this modification, etc.

If you decided to sue, the guy that took the pictures could also be subpoenaed. If he was to testify in court, that this was, indeed, your idea and creation, you could very well have a strong case. Just something to think about.

PS If you decide to do this and get a ton of money, could you send me a little?

The risk there is if you prove him not to be the author his lodgment affidavit is invalid - the patent is invalid. You may not necessarily get the rights awarded by the court.

I.e. be careful what you suit for.

I don't know if it would invalidate the patent or not. I do know that the money being generated from farmatts idea is real. A lawsuit may or may not be warranted or feasible. A conversation a qualified attorney certainly wouldn't hurt though.

Who knows? If an attorney was to find his case winnable, they might even take it on a contingency basis.

In two occassions it happened to me. In 1980,s I applied for a UK patent to charge the batteries of an electric vehicle by mounting a wind powered generator. They replied saying that somebody has already applied for a similar device and sent me a copy of that application. In 2010 I planned to apply for a US/Canadian patent for recycling used water in buildings to recycle or use to flush toilets or gardening. A patent search showed that already someone has applied for such a device. Some people get ideas very late.The person who can manufacture one and demonstrate the idea will only be recognised.

A wind powered generator on the car?

Recycling water is a very old solution in dry areas - They saved you money as it would never hold anyway.

What an outstanding post !

One forum to rub shoulders with some outstanidng inventors, innovators, thinkers (i assume these qualities are not mutually exclusive)... i feel uplifted quite a bit (i wish all bras felt the same)

i maintain my original position. If you think of something new, you INVENTED it. Doesn't matter if someone else did it before. Think of all those witty statements, repartees, deep thoughts you had...somebody else must have done.... who cares ? YOU thought of it first ! Don't let anyone take it away from you.

You don't let anyone get you down. YOU are the toughest judge of yourself. YOU passed it. Money is not everything.

Thank you. good thinking.

Chris

I'll umpteenth that. Back when voice recognition was becoming commercially viable I had the idea to create a mechanical "parrot" that could be set to record words, phrases, etc. and then randomly combine and repeat them. Thought it would be fun for parties... or just to capture guests unaware and them have them surprised that a mechanical parrot would repeat something they said a few minutes back. Seemed like fun to me. Then years later saw a simpler product version of it in some mail order catalog.

I think this happens because... (sigh). It would require too much explaining and might also be considered too theological -- although it's only describing the construction of man. The short answer is, there is such a thing as "universal mind" that we all tap in to. Even "original" ideas existed before being "received" by a human mind. Many would, no doubt, think otherwise, but a careful observation of the process of solving problems reveals that we are "waiting" as much as anything for something to pop in our head.

The idea of intuition, or infinite library, to which we each subscribe, is a thought that is regularly in my head. However, if true, what is the purpose of this massive brain we have. If the knowledge of the universe is available to us in the library of heaven, why have a meat-computer? I have no answer.

As with anything spiritual, the evidence is ony 'everything, and nothing less than everything'. As with anything non-spiritual, we are overwhelmed with evidence that we have what we need in our bioliogy to figure things out.

From an evidentiary point of view, there is also the possibility, without going to spiritual explanations, that we have higher functions, such as telepathy, as a form of communication we don't yet understand, but seems to permit interpersonal communications with other brains, at times.

I would say that there is the least evidence of spirit, and the most evidence of us being electromechanical machines.. but I believe in both. I wish we had a thorough understanding of all our capacities; a user manual for our body and mind and spirit, but we don't... (don't say bible) so I'm asking you all, what is your opinion on how to improve our abilities.

I am aware of the TRIZ methodologies and want to learn more, but it doesn't seem to be opened up to the group. I inquired as to the price of some 'invention machine' software. but have not received an answer.

Creativity, Innovation, and Invention are the most important drivers to sustainable civiliation. It is something that affects us all. Continuous improvement is that which will keep us from sliding back into the mud, and help prevent catastrophic failures. ^{_{(if only we could 'improve' politics, finance, war, and religion, we would have it made.)}}

Chris

I had a Federal inspector complain about having to partially disassemble an electrical enclosure to check the function of a circuit. I thought of a way that the inspectors would not have to disassemble the box.

The drawback here was, it would add to the cost of this enclosure, which the owner/operators would not pay for unless it was required by the federal inspectors. The Federal inspectors said it would be too much trouble to add this requirement.

I feel I did my part.

yes. I can not disagree with that. thank you Garthh. razor sharp as always.

let me refine my question. If I get to this stage where i'm getting some great ideas as an inventor, but I find that I'm still having ideas that have been already thought of... how can I progress to having a greater percentage of original ideas?

does this mean, as has been previously suggested, that I must simply know a given field of inquiry better than anyone else?

does this mean I must be more connected to a 'higher power' or intuitive source?

does this mean... well what does it mean to you or anyone? I simply want to improve.

chris

This is somewhat like the question recently

Can Troubleshooting Be Taught?

Do you want to solve problems?

Or create new industries?

Another interesting pass time is to do the success analysis

why is a particular solution successful?

in ESBuck's example, the technical details weren't as important as good timing & the organization

_{[Somebody help me I don't know the specifics}]

The glue that connects both is made up (mostly) of unobtainium. Not only did I read to there but I read in between the lines and what I find are trace elements of that said glue.

That thought is on it's way and if we want to catch it, our antennas have to be aimlessly pointing to the spots were we think we had, saw, felt, visualized it last. All of us are smarter than others, just not all of the time, how boring would that be. Reflecting upon the non existent is a hard act to follow but it can be done, at least sometimes.

My response to you is practically proof of that, or so I think, Ky.

I'm alive.
I'm like everyone else.
I have drives, passions, and desires.
I feel good when I invent something new.
I get a mental kick out of being unique and creating unique things.
This feeling has become a part of my personality.
When I was young, I didn't know who I was.
I want to be special... rare... valuable.
This feeling helps me understand that I have value.
There is nothing wrong with that.
I can create something that other people value, want, and need.
We all need something to feel good about.
Other people have different drives and feelings, that help them feel good.
Nobody is perfect.
I create value.
I feel good.
I create.
I feel good.
I die.
Hopefully I will be remembered because I created something to help others.
In heaven, I understand creativity is an aspect of creation.

very inspiring thoughts bob_c. ga. right to the core of my original question. If you do remember, please continue...

Grasshopper,

You have answered your own question, however ther is a final option;

volume, quantity over quality, "if you ask enough girls out you will get a date"

On the other hand to increase your percentage of patentable ideas it is always possible to refine an existing idea, some do this by patent trolling, many frown on this, but I say if you can analize enough patents and find one you can improove on, then more power to ya.

You define patent trolling a little differently than I do- what I call patent trolls are those companies that try to corner a technology by buying up all the appropriate patents on a particular concept, then sue everybody and his cousin for infringement. The recent SCO adventure over the ownership of Unix is a good example of a patent troll (who, thank heavens, got his proper comeupance). Looking for ideas to improve on is not a bad thing to do.

No. I think this answers the question being asked.

An example of a good idea occuring to many people:

Who invented the steamboat? President T. Jefferson signed two patents, dated the same day, because there were two contenders, the first inventor and the second, who had the endorsement of Geo. Washigton and others. Both inventors had operating steamboats, one with paddles, the other jet propelled. Neither got rich. Several others designed steamboats but could not commercialize them. Much later, after the patents had expired, Robert Fulton built a commercially viable steamboat (with available parts, like the Boulton-Watt steam engine) which multiplied and expanded trade, especially on the Mississippi. So Robert Fulton is identified as the inventor in American school books.

it is good to know. thank you. Did the sale of your patent justify all the effort?

Chris.

I would have to say yes Chris. I wish I would have made more but about the only way to do that would have been to manufacture the product myself. Since I am not a business man and I don't have the funds required to start a company, selling the product was my best bet.

Most inventors don't get filthy rich off their inventions. If your lucky you may get comfy!

Yes! Many years ago, back before the internet and the research potential that it gives us, I felt there was a need for a machine attachment that none of my friends had seen or heard of. So I designed this bolt on attachment for a Brown and Sharpe automatic screw machine. Needless to say, when I looked thruogh some old books for some machine dimensions, I found that B & S had not only already thought of this, but had actually marketed a more elaborate attachment. I did make an interesting attachment for the machine, but it had no commercial value.

So I guess it is true; There's nothing new under the sun!

There ate two basic reasons to do a patent search:

1. If you want to patent an idea; and

2. If you do not want to patent an idea, but do not want to get sued for infringing on someone else's patent claims.

Patent llaw: you cannot infringe on anyone else's patent by making, using or selling an item that some else holds a patent claim on, in the U S A, unless the patent is out of date and is public domain category

PEbobimm

I still believe in, and I know it's somewhat cliche-ish, but necessity is the big motivator of inventing. I'm copying what I wrote on my web sight related to inventing. It's my take on it anyway that I titled "What Inventing Means to Me":

Well, hopefully you feel like you've done your homework long before ever cutting into any metal or spending precious time of your life on spinning another wheel. Then there are times you just can't help yourself and do anyway for the sake of curiosity. There were many great minds before me who often took their life time of measures to validate many thoughts and theories. I wish not to repeat them, but to build upon them in the name of higher efficiencies and to improve "quality of life" for whom I share the elements of this planet. I stick to the centuries of proven science to motivate me along the way. In the process, you hope that the changes you make or the thoughts you bring to a physical reality, produce the results anticipated. Often, more than not, its never quite right the first time only to learn something more about the process that requires... more learning. It often involves many more than one field of science or trade. Then there is the business aspect, less science like, but just as competitive requiring just as much scrutiny. But I digress as it is for the love of creativity and the challenge of abilities and accomplishment of goals. I confess most all met with some degree of success. Learning in all areas related to the projects being developed is continuous and frankly, very fun. I never want to stop learning.

Also to quote one of my favorite inventors, Stan Ovshinsky:

"Anybody who wants to make a revolution, shouldn't grab a gun, just go and start working like we do to change the world by using science and technology."

Quoted from "Who Killed The Electric Car".

And finally, if you can, build it! Prove that your idea can work and eliminate most all doubt, then test it from and by the most appropriate means available so that doubt is further eliminated and that moving to marketing and production is proven to be a reality.

Patenting sucks for me right now and I hate all the careful wording (like using "fastener" instead of the actual fastening device and the such) and getting all the claims just right. Provisionals are basically a joke, depending on what your patenting, so much for easier. I swear it's taking longer for this part than to build the devices themselves! It sucks all your creative energies on a technical level. My bit of rant on that.

I believe that if necessity is the mother of invention, then lazy is the father.

Many of the inventions that we see are just modifications of earlier inventions that make life easier than before.

Yes I've had this happen. My comment as to your invention is that your statement was incomplete. What was it supposed to do? Who would want to use it? What kind of performance would it have compared to whatever is doing that now? Since neither you nor I have seen this in use, the current invention is not highly popular, so could you modify your idea to appeal to (see above)? Don't forget how much does it cost? The original idea is a start, not an end.

Welcome to CR4. I'm honored that this thread is your first post. And your insights are excellent. GA on your first try. well done.

Chris

Ky, NE & SC

Have all hit on many of the very real & practical concerns, the soft skills, the intangibles.

How good is your bullshyt detector?

Can you go the distance, jump through the bureaucratic hoops with a smile & let whatever official feel like he is somehow responsible for your success & not let you ego show?

Can you lose the minor battles to win the war?

Garth,

you hit the nail on the head, I personally have great difficulty kissing the Bureaucratic but, and usually let my ego win all the minor battles and loose the war,

I dont have a good poker face, even when I do bow to them my contempt shows.

It pays to hire a 3rd party without the ego attachment.

Spacecannon

I think a valuable problem solving technique is cross pollination.

Have you ever noticed a bit of technology that could be applied to a totally different field?

I have seen it in fire service for years.

There is a lot of research and hard work to develope an idea. Finding the right company to work with is very time consuming. There are a lot of rapid prototyping companies out there that like to charge 2,000 for this and 5,000 for that. This is great way to get a prototype fast. I think large companies should sponsor science projects bruoght to them by inventors. By helping inventors succeed the helping company will also reap a great harvest. Is America ready to help America!

In the early 70'S at the age of eleven I was playing with electronics kit. It came with a motion sensor eye. I set the sensor up in the hallway and when someone walked by the buzzer went off. From that I said would'nt it be nice to have the hall light come on with this same principle. They have these sensor light switches in major hardware stores today. With this same electronics kit I made a shocker. I had battery pack, switch, transformer. Hold wires in hand and hit switch to give shock, then I took one of those dinosaur toys that has a string to move mouth. I ran wires up though to dinosaurs head put aluminum foil on bottom and top jaw and made me a dino shocker. I still don't think they sell this in stores. Tom Daily

Quote: I think large companies should sponsor science projects bruoght to them by inventors. Spelling and all.

Can't think of a better way for them to pour money down a rat hole than that!

Also can't think of any reason you can't run out and buy a dino shocker at your local mart!

The term inventor seems to have a lot of different definitions depending on the individual from what I read here!

I believe Pepsi is actively looking for inventors that have ideas that would improve the world.

I would take the sugar out of Pepsi (and Coke)!!!

so true, and so funny Andy! a rare bit of ironic humour

...and I though my humour was not so "rare" as you appear to think it is!!!!

well it was almost the first thing I read this morning... almost spewed my coffee. I'm not a huge fan of cola's, and tend to be aware of 'spin'.

chris

OK, I will stop pouting......

Don't doubt that a bit - would be great PR but that is not the same as mentioned in the post - much more selective

Thank you; I couldn't get my OT vote above 5 on my own devices. But a little help from my friends...or moderators...

You are wrong again, as usual. The "on" should not be "of."

Yes, it happens.

Have you read "Act of Creation" by Arthur Koestler. This is book regarding human creativity, parallels between Scientific discoveries, invention, Creation of art and creation of Humor.

In the book author gives many incidences where same inventions are done at the same time, without one aware that same thing is being tried by some one else. This phenomenon author calls as "Maturity of Time".

The book is of 1964, still available in market. Most important thing is that the examples are obviously of "pre internet era". Now a days due to internet, there are chances of knowing what is being done in one place by some one from other place.