Of course the attorney's first loyalty is to the client. The issue of whether the invention is patentable may answered in the negative if one of...

How important is it to put every screw slot on a provisional patent application?

I assume your question is rhetorical regarding the level of detail, and you are referring to a provisional. Lets look at the provisional part of...

We came up with an invention, sold some, then someone filed a patent a few months before we did after seeing out invention.

All the comments are well taken, There is one other point worth thinking about. Its the issue of inventorship. Only a true inventor can receive a...

What can I do to protect my idea?

The prior responders are correct as far as copyright law is concerned. But you did not specify the type of "idea" that you want to protect. Perhaps...

Question about patents

The prior answers are all good advice. The most important point is that to present your idea to a company in the relevant field, the company will...