I have this invention idea. I haven’t come up with the blueprints but the layout is in my head and it should take me no longer than a couple days to put together.
My question is what should I do?
I read about an option where I would take my invention to certain companies and have them review my product to see if they would like it. Before this is done though they would have to sign a contract that protects me and my invention.
Should I try this or take another route?
patent it first, it will provide you with legal protection should someone try to steal your design.
Aren’t patents very expensive?
I am looking for the fastest way to get this product off the ground. And I’m a college student so I dont have much money (like none at all).
My brother-in-law has a patent and it cost him about $30k, I believe. I’m not sure all patents cost that amount though. I would research as much as you can online then go speak to a reputable patent attorney.
Explain your invention here so we can best guide you.
[quote]FormerlyTexasGuy wrote:
Explain your invention here so we can best guide you. [/quote]
beat me to it 
Yeah sure no problem. (sarcasm)
If you can get it down on paper, then you can mail it to yourself. The postmark on the envelope will help serve as proof of when you invented. Obviously not as good as a patent, but it’s an ok first step.
Isn’t that called a poor man’s patent. I heard of it a while ago. I’ll look into it to see how enforceable it is when it comes to legal issues.
Thanks a lot.
[quote]realt81 wrote:
Isn’t that called a poor man’s patent. I heard of it a while ago. I’ll look into it to see how enforceable it is when it comes to legal issues.
Thanks a lot. [/quote]
Couldnt you just save the idea till you can afford a patent? Or is simple enough that someone else could think of it?
Yeah thats what Im worried about. Its pretty simple but no one has done it yet and from my research ( a TON of research) there is nothing like it even in the works.
So I want to get it out there. Plus I hate my 9-5 job and want to be rich as hell.
Spend a few days researching published patents for anything remotely related to see if your idea or anything close to it has been done before. If you seem to be free and clear you can do a provisional patent app for like 50 or 100 which will give you some time to test the waters.
[edit]
Have fun:
http://www.uspto.gov/main/patents.htm
Honestly a patent won’t give you that much protection from someone trying to copy your idea, they can modify it enough to fall outside of the claims made in the patent and then keep it bottled up in the courts for years.
You make money by producing the thing and then selling it, very few companies are interested in buying an idea from anyone.
If this is a simple widget that can be made with some basic machine tools, then you can set up a small factory in your garage or spare bedroom, then it’s all about selling it and distributing it.
Go ahead and file for a patent, but don’t let that stop you from producing and selling a product. No one will really be interested in copying your idea until it’s a proven moneymaker and by that time you might have made a small fortune off of it.
Don’t listen to people on the internet and go talk with an IP attorney.
You will make more money from selling the product then selling the idea. In the long term that it, and its all about the long term.
If it is groundbreaking, you’d best talk to somebody who can help you produce it and market it.
[quote]hardgnr wrote:
somebody who can help you produce it and market it.[/quote]
Billie Mays, lol
You can file for a provisional patent. I looked at the fee schedule just now, it’s right around 300ish.
This allows you to put “patent pending” on your product and essentially lets anyone you’re pitching the idea to know you’re on top of having the rights to the design.
From there the next step would be to develop a prototype and try to sell it to a company arranging royalties and hopefully getting them to pay for the rest of the patent product. Then again, you could manufacture a product and maybe make %20 on it Or you could get a %5 royaltee fee. Self production, if the product has a limited market, is probably the best way to make more money.
But if it’s truly a ground breaking product that you can sell to a big company in return for a great arrangement with them, why not? I’d rather make passive income than have to worry about overseeing production, marketing and sales of a product.
[quote]jehovasfitness wrote:
hardgnr wrote:
somebody who can help you produce it and market it.
Billie Mays, lol[/quote]
LMAO.
Oddly enough, I thought of something that would be a good idea that I’ve never heard of, just today.
If you are serious, PM me. My wife is an agent for a patent services and licensing company.
I’ll tell you this up front though- It will run you about 11k for a utility patent. If you don’t have that, well, good luck.
find a lawyer and a patent drawer!
You should also research to see if there is an already patent pending on an invention that might be similar to yours… If so… SOL…