How can I market or sell an idea without getting ripped off or paying for a patent lawyer etc.?

Question

I have some great ideas but the cost to market them is not an option. Is there a way to get an idea directly to a co. For a very small royalty or even sell outright without being ripped off by so called invention market companys.

Answer 1

You are smart to avoid the invention marketing companies. But trying to sell an idea without any legal weight behind you probably won't get you far.

BTW - Mailing documents to yourself probably won't work as suggested. This is an old wive's tale. Instead, consider filing your own provisional patent application. Go to www.uspto.gov to learn more.

Answer 2

Great ideas without marketing skills, as you are learning, is worth zilch.

Sadly the only way to move forward with a good idea is to market them to companies involved in this game and then to prepare to negotiate.

Your negotiating position as the "inventor" will depend on your backbone and your "homework" as these folk are in the business to make profit.

So- PATENT your idea BEFORE you publicise it for starters. You must be protected by more than natural intellectual property and you must do this with the Patent Office in your part of the world. Note that patents vary- I am in the UK and missed applying for a patent (as it has actually launched as a marketed and manufactured product) in the UK and would ANYWAY have had to apply for a US one if I wanted to be able to sue for breach of copyright/patent there.

:-(

AFTER this (crucial) stage you can look to "advertise" your invention/concept by cold-calling companies which deal with new idea development. Cold-calling is a sorry game but it is the sure-fire way of getting yourself seen. Otherwise you are relying solely on luck and that gets only few of us where we want to be! Not enough to be going around!

Never undersell a good idea. I mean- don't be tempted to peg the royalties too low or tie them up too tight. Never sell when you ought to be "leasing out". And who can give you advice on this? Hmmm... A decent lawyer working in intellectual property. In the UK we also have a body called ICASS who work with inventors to establish a base for themselves. Good to locate a similar body and toss some ideas around with them!

Good luck and looking forward to the next best thing since sliced bread from you!

Answer 3

The above answer is nonsens. First of all, you can't patent an idea. It has to be an actual technical invention. Second go to a patent attorney. He can help you.

Answer 4

One way that you can obtain some protection for you work is this: before you tell anyone about one of your ideas, write down a FULL description of the idea; mail it to yourself, CERTIFIED MAIL, and include copies of any documentation and evidence that you have. When this package is delivered to you, DO NOT OPEN IT or remove any of the postal/certified mail attachments. This will provide you with evidence of when you got the idea and the fact that the idea is yours. This used to be called "a poor man's patent"

Answer 5

Most reputable companies won't even talk to you about your idea until you have some type of patent protection pending. I would suggest reading the book "Patent It Yourself."