So you are an inventor with a new invention, what next?<\/p>\n
Inventors usually have a questions like: Should I get a prototype? Do I need to have a patent to protect the idea? Who can I speak about it to? Is it a good idea? Can I make money from it? Who can I trust? Is there some great blueprint I can use to follow? Is it possible to get a manufacturer to make the product for me and pay me a royalty?<\/em><\/p>\n
Many inventors come to me with their ideas but don’t know what to do about it. I tell them that I do not want to encourage them or discourage them however ideas don’t usually sell themselves. It takes many things to sell the idea. In order to take a product from the idea stage to the store it is necessary to learn what it will take to manufacture, market and distribute the product.<\/p>\n
There’s a good checklist\u00a0 described as the ABCs of inventing in Inventors Digest <\/strong><\/em><\/a>. I think this list is a good starting point and should be thought of as the “Inventors 10 Commandments”:<\/p>\n
1) Stay away from invention marketing companies that advertise on radio and late night TV.<\/p>\n
3) Do your own patent search online at\u00a0 the USPTO<\/a> or at a Patent Depository Library<\/a>.<\/p>\n
5) Have your invention evaluated by a non-biased professional (even if your Mom\u2019s in the business, go to someone else!).The nonprofit United Inventors Association <\/a>offers an excellent invention evaluation.<\/p>\n
7) Network with other inventors. Join a local inventors\u2019 organization.<\/p>\n
Who can I trust? What do I do next? How do I find the help I need?<\/p>\n
8) If your patent search looked promising (see #3), make an appointment with a patent attorney<\/a>, patent agent or professional patent searcher. Show him the results of your search and follow the advice.<\/p>\n
9) Do what you do well and hire pros to do the rest.<\/p>\n
These are all great points and should be taken into consideration. One thing inventors should understand is that it’s a long way to Tipperary<\/em><\/a>. Anything that is worth it may take a lot of blood, sweat and tears to be a success. The ancient Chinese Confucius said, “A journey of a thousand miles starts from the very first step.”<\/p>\n