| Many people have products that they have thought | | | | what you are dreaming of is not already out there |
| about and never pursued because of one primary | | | | on the market. Also do your own search in search |
| reason -- fright. As product dreamers we are afraid | | | | engines online or within various online stores. |
| of someone stealing our inventions, not having the | | | | 6. File a Provisional Patent. I did my own provisional |
| funds to pursue the dream or not having the time to | | | | patent but it does require a lot of time. You must |
| move forward. The same people that sit on their | | | | research other patents first on the United States |
| ideas look up one day and see the very product that | | | | Patent Office site to find another patented product |
| they thought of is currently on the market. | | | | that may be a bit similar to yours and change what is |
| Why is this? The reason this happens is because if | | | | pertinent to your product. You can also hire an |
| you can dream of an easier way to get something | | | | attorney to do the provisional patent. The Provisional |
| done someone else can have that very same idea. | | | | patent lasts one year. It was ideal for me to do a |
| What makes you and another person that has the | | | | provisional patent because I gauged the market to |
| same idea any different? Whomever obtains patent | | | | determine if it was something I really wanted to |
| protection first has all the rights to the product idea. | | | | pursue before filing the more costly non-provisional |
| I have 10 preliminary tips for all dreamers that have | | | | patent. |
| ideas they would like to pursue... | | | | 7. Surround yourself with others who have been |
| 1. Get moving on your dream today! Do something | | | | through the process before or those who are |
| towards bringing your dream into reality every single | | | | currently pursuing their invention endeavors. I met a |
| day. | | | | SCORE counselor who has a product invention |
| 2. Write down everything about your product idea. | | | | background. He counseled me on pertinent issues and |
| Get a friend or pay someone to draw the product. | | | | provided great contacts for me so that I would not |
| 3. Save your money and maintain good credit. Most | | | | have to reinvent the wheel. I also joined an inventors |
| have to put a substantial amount of money towards | | | | organization. |
| their dream even if they get bank backing. However, | | | | 8. Get a prototype. You must have a working |
| some do get venture capital and angel investors to | | | | prototype that you can show potential buyers to |
| fund their product inventions. This is a matter of | | | | garner interest. |
| preference. With pursuing the venture capitalist and | | | | 9. Conduct market research on your product. I am |
| angel investor avenue get ready to hand over much | | | | not talking about just speaking to family and friends |
| of your profits. | | | | about their opinion of your product. I am talking |
| 4. Require any individual that you would like to | | | | about paying for a professional focus group to talk |
| disclose information about your product sign a | | | | about all the pertinent information you need to know |
| non-disclosure agreement. In summary this | | | | from would be consumers about your product. You |
| agreement allows both parties to sign a document | | | | can also do mall interceptions and surveys online. |
| stating the product inventor is disclosing pertinent | | | | 10. If you decide after your research you would like |
| information about their product and the company will | | | | to pursue your dream full force, get your full |
| not share this information with any third party. This | | | | non-provisional patent filed. The non-provisional patent |
| agreement will allow you to talk to very important | | | | will provide you with protection for over 20 years |
| people that you will need to in order to get moving | | | | after the United States Patent Office have accepted |
| on your project. | | | | it. You want to contact an attorney that someone |
| 5. Get a Professional to do a Product Search with the | | | | has referred to you. I negotiated with an attorney |
| United States Patent Office. This can be a Patent | | | | that does not work off of an hourly rate. I strongly |
| agent or an Attorney. You want to be sure that | | | | suggest you getting a fixed rate attorney. |