How do I begin to make money off an idea I have for an invention? Do I contact a manufacturer? I am stumped as to what to do next? Please help. Thank you, Kandice
2007-06-19 09:26:56 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
First things first is to patent your idea before anyone steals it.
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/provapp.htm
Good idea of how the process works:
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/sc_mrksv/cipo/patents/e-filing/proc5.htm
Next is the most time consuming: RESEARCH. You need to thouroughly research what manufacturers could handle the production of your product; check their credentials and make sure you log every contact you make in which you divulge ANY portion of your product idea.
You may want to hire an attorney and/or a business consultant to assist you with forming your business and developing a marketing plan.
2007-06-19 09:29:41 · answer #1 · answered by Melli 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First write it down in as much detail as you can. Date and sign it. Start a portfolio for it. This may offer some limited protection if someone steals the idea down the road.... This is the easy part.
Next, the prototype. Find someone to build it for you iof you cant on your own. Have them sign a confidentiality agreement this will protect you also.
Harder part. Get it patented (us patent office web page - a great help), Next, hardest, get it produced (sell the idea to a manufacturer). Yup, its tuff. The tuffest part.
Above all DO NOT go to invention submission companies... you know, the ones you hear advertised on radio and tv all the time. A MAJOR RIP OFF. They begin a slow process that sucks the money from you for a cut of the profits. If you see any. Keep the money yourself, youll probably need it for the patent.
Good luck.
2007-06-19 09:41:50 · answer #2 · answered by Robert S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I also have a great invention. In fact, three or four of them.
Seriously.
Go to the patent office website first. I'm sure you can find it, if you can find YA's.
Get your idea patented (hopefully it's not one of mine!), then you can speak to a manufacturer. For that, it will be easiest to go through the yellow pages.
Be prepared: to have something manufactured costs a good deal of money. Likely $10k or more, depending on what it is.
Then you have packaging, and marketing.
2007-06-19 09:32:22 · answer #3 · answered by powhound 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The very first thing to do, is protect the idea from copy/theft.
So before you tell anyone, write it down, with drawings.
Put them in a sealed envelope & send to yourself registered.
Don't open the envelope when it arrives, store in a safe place.
There are services who claim they will help you.
But often that is just a money siphon, beware!
There are legitimate patent lawyers, who will search.
But that will cost you something.
2007-06-19 09:36:32 · answer #4 · answered by Robert S 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A patent attorney would be the first person to contact. They will protect your idea, counsel you through the process, and perform the neccessary searches and filings.
They're not inexpensive though...
Presenting any idea to a manufacturer is a BAD idea. They will take your idea if it is valuable and viable.
2007-06-19 09:31:21 · answer #5 · answered by ©2009 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
the united state patent office
2016-04-01 06:00:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You offer it to me. I promote it and then you get your cut! What else do you want to know? Make sure you have an international patent, but it will cost you no less than 25K dollars to get it!
2007-06-19 09:35:20 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
contact a patent Lawyer.
2007-06-19 09:35:01 · answer #8 · answered by nena_en_austin 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Chances are, your invention has already been invented and just never caught on.
2007-06-19 09:31:30 · answer #9 · answered by B.Kevorkian 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋