I have a great idea for a new electronic product. Who should I approach, and how do I protect my idea?

Question

I do not have the technical knowledge or resources to make the product, or a prototype.

Answer 1

You have to do your own research and document your invention. If you have no technical knowledge, you would just have to put some effort to know. Lable and serialize each page and date your documentation. You can do a first level protection by putting your documentation, sealing it tight and mailing it to yourself so that you have a dated stamp. (Do not open it as it serves as proof of the timeframe you have on your invention). Maybe mail a few sets.

You can engage a Intellectual Property lawyer or go to your nearest govermental organization that protects or documents intellectual property to get more information.

If you want to show your idea to companies, make sure you have them sign a non-disclosure contract before showing. Patenting is a huge subject with protection available only if you register it in the country you want protection which can be expensive.

Find out more about intellectual property protection on the net.

Answer 2

Write your idea out in great detail then mail it to yourself the post mark will act as the date of origin on your idea. DO NOT OPEN the letter you send to yourself, keep it in a very safe place. Once you have done this search the US patent web site to see if your idea has already been submitted (you can do this before but it takes so long to search all the keywords you would use on your product I would recommend sending the letter first to establish the date) if you find someone else has come up with a simular idea make sure they are not enough alike to cause a patent war. If you find no one has an idea like yours you can contact a patent lawyer to help you with the paper work and process. You can also go straight to the patent lawyer and they can do the patent search for you. Another alternative is to find an inventor and submit your idea to them this is also where the dated unopened letter can help you especially if they try to take your idea. The letter would be the most important step towards your goal. Good luck.

Answer 3

Watch out. There are lots of companies out there that are ready to scam you. Not because they want your idea. They just want your money. There are lots of companies that say they are an inventor's resource. They will say they love your idea and then get you to pay for a lot of "services".

In reality you will need to build your idea before you can get someone interested in it. Go to the local library and check out books on inventing. There are quite a few helpful ones. Beware of websites with help for inventors. Many of them will direct you to the scammers. Hopefully, in the books you will find forms you can copy for confidentiality agreements and such. There will also be advice on how to move forward with your idea.

What you will need is to find someone who can build your idea. Even if your idea is the best in the world, very few companies will do anything unless you can give them a demonstration of it working. They get bombarded by people with ideas. They do not have the resources to investigate every single one. You will need to build it to prove that it will work. This will more than likely come out of your pocketbook unless you can find investors. If you can build it, then you should patent it as soon as possible. This will cost you quite a bit. A patent lawyer is a good idea. Someone with experience in doing the historical searchs and knows what to do.

Answer 4

in accordance to the 80/20 rule, 20% of the human beings administration 80% of the globe's wealth. So what are you gonna do? objective those 20% of the human beings, they are going to make up 80% of your total income. So, promote extreme priced issues. the more effective extreme priced it really is, the more effective confident the customers have on your product, and they are prepared to spend more effective for high quality products. products like luxury vehicles, fashion designer products, extreme end and gadgets are good.

Answer 5

You tell me! ha ha i'll help. just kidding.. i would help, but there's no trust in the world today.. so.. moving on.. here's the answer i got when i thought of my idea... (i don't have enough money to patent it.)

you'd have to patent it if it was an item or something.. copyright is for books and information, etc.

patenting is for items and such..

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here's what i got when i asked my patent questions

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Desite the fact that many "patent companies" tell you that you can patent an idea in reality you cannot.

You file for a patent under two types of patents. The first is a "Provisional Patent" which is much less stringent than your normal patents. A Provisional Patent can allow you to patent an idea (well sort of) but it only covers you for the term of one year and can cost around one to two thousand dollars. It is useful when you have something tangible to shop around and see if you get any takers, When you shop it around it is important that you have the people you approach sign a form saying they will not use your idea or create one very similar to use as their own. Like I said, a provisional patent only covers you for ONE YEAR.

A true patent that lasts for years and years (around 20) is harder to come by. Number one reason is that this current political administration recently allowed for the fees necessary to apply for a patent to be raised a great deal. This was done on the down low. It now costs around $10,000 on average for a patent. It can cost much more dependent upon lawyers fees. The effect of this short sighted policy is that it damages one of the things that made America great. The innovative tinkerers that thought of and created new products and created new industries and jobs here in America. Now, save for a few exceptions, mainly the rich and big corporations or the military/industrial complex will be able to afford to take out patents. (A process that normally takes years)

For a product to be accepted in the US patent office you have to have more than an idea, a working product, a prototype and the ability to describe it in minute and technical detail is necessary.

There are many companies out there that say that they work with inventors and their ideas...BEWARE. Often they are no more than scam artists that will charge you to make a "presentation" of your idea then charge you to "shop it around" and have a milion other ways to charge you. These will not ever pay you for an idea nor take one of your ideas and create it then pay you a small royalty or percentage. That for the most part is a myth. I am sorry if this bursts a bubble of sorts. I am just trying to save you cash and heart ache and allow you to keep and hopefully develop your idea to fruition.

On a positive note, there are angel investors out there that depending on the industry your idea deals with may be interested (as in helping you with angel or seed funds or even through the process) but again, the further you are along in the process the more of your product and the windfall you will be able to keep.

Good luck and keep trying, despite the pitfalls, inventors are by and large the visionaries that create the future today.

Below I copied some info from the Patent Office along with links. Good luck!



Q:Can you give me some information on companies that can help with my invention?
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A:Invention development companies are private and public research companies that help inventors develop, patent, and promote their ideas so they can be commercially licensed or sold. While many of these organizations are legitimate, some are not. Here are seven tips to help you make smart invention development decisions:

Learn About the Patent Process.
When you understand the basics of how to get a patent, you will know when invention marketers are making promises they, or the patent system, can't deliver.

Do Your Homework.
Check the organization's references, ask for credentials, and then check them.

Be Realistic.
Not every invention is patentable. Be wary of any developer willing to promote virtually any invention.

Know Where Your Money Is Going.
Ask the organization how your money will be spent. Be on guard against large up-front fees.

Protect Your Rights.

DO NOT disclose your invention to a developer over the phone before first signing a confidentiality agreement. You could forfeit valuable patent rights.

Track Your Invention's Progress.
Once you decide to use an invention development organization, deal directly with the agent or patent attorney who will be handling your patent application.

Don't Get Discouraged!

The patent process can be very complicated, so you will probably need professional help. There are many good patent agents and attorneys that can help you. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office maintains a nationwide register of attorneys and agents who meet our legal, scientific and technical requirements. For information on registered patent attorney and agents, you may visit the USPTO's Office of Enrollment and Discipline Web site at http://www.uspto.gov/go/oed.

Protests by a member of the public against pending applications will be referred to the examiner having charge of the subject matter involved. A protest specifically identifying the application to which the protest is directed will be entered in the application file if: (1) The protest is submitted prior to the publication of the application or the mailing of a notice of allowance under rule 1.311, whichever occurs first; and (2) The protest is either served upon the applicant in accordance with rule 1.248, or filed with the Office in duplicate in the event service is not possible. For more detailed information on protesting a patent, you may visit our Web site at http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpe... for the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP) Chapter 1900.

P.S. FOR YOUR LAST QUESTION: How old do you have to be to get a patent?
There are no age restrictions on applying for a patent.

Answer 6

Visit the web sites of the US Patent Office or the Library of Congress. They should be able to help you with registering your patent. You should patent your idea before you talk to anyone about. Otherwise, they can still your idea and you won't be able to do anything about it.

Answer 7

trevor baylis the inventor of the wind up radio help people like you

Answer 8

First thing you need to do is: get it copy righted.

Answer 9

bill gates

Answer 10

TELL ME i will help you .............