If you have a VIABLE invention then it is a good idea to protect it.
Do you know about the Provisional Application for Patent? It only costs $65 and was designed by Congress to give individual inventors a chance at bringing their inventive ideas to market easily. It is SUPER EASY to do..
If a provisional application for patent looks like the right thing for you to do then take a look at a website that shows EXACTLY how to file one using a video format. Either Google or YouTube Provisional Patent Video or PM me and I will give you links to consider. I notice you do not have your email turned on in Yahoo or I would have sent it to you..
I do not want to put links in here because lawyers delete my posts when I do.. go figure! They do not want you to know how easy this is! You can email me at dave.korpi@gmail.com too if you want as well!
There are LOTS of ways to move forward with your invention. I would caution you away from paying ANYONE ANYTHING until you COMPLETELY understand what and when they will give you what you want.
DO NOT pay anyone $5,000 to start your invention... Not even invention companies until you COMPLETELY understand exactly what they will do for you. I have talked to way too many folks who have spent from $1800 to $5000 to get nothing.
Not to worry.. there are ways to get what you want ant YOU can do it yourself, for the most part, and it is fairly easy to do everything. Just know the USPTO is a branch of the Federal Government and the Federal government wants YOU to be a millionaire so you can pay taxes. Therefore, the Federal Government, via the USPTO, makes it EASY to file a Provisional Application for Patent. Extremely easy.
Hey, my name is Allie and I am the Digital Marketing Strategists at SmartUp. There are much easier ways to obtain a patent for your invention than going through the traditional and lengthy process of searching for a patent lawyer. Within the SmartUp website's Learn section, you can read more about alternative routes to obtaining a patent, as well as regulations from the USPTO surrounding public disclosure. Included below is an exert that describes what actually qualifies as public disclosure:
"Exposing of your idea or invention to the public more than 12 months before you file for patent protection may prevent you from obtaining patent rights to your idea or invention. There a number of ways you could have disclosed your invention to the public in the legal sense - the examples shown here only illustrate a few of those ways. Particularly, the United States Patent and Trademark Office is interested to see if you have publicly 1. disclosed, 2. used, or 3. offered for sale the version of your invention that you are attempting to patent."
For a more customized response, you can also register for a free consultation with a patent attorney at the SmartUp website.
1
Contact an attorney. Filing a patent requires very precise wording when it comes to claims, and intellectual property attorneys specialize in the language and process of filing a patent. If you do not follow the rules of filing a patent, or make a mistake, you may not get the patent approved. Attorney costs typically total $1,500.
2
Seek investors. While an attorney can help, the fees associated with one are expensive. Finding investors to fund the patent process of your invention can help you save money. Create a business plan that revolves around your invention, outlining how you plan to make a profit with this product once it's patented. Investors typically require a percentage of the royalties or equity in the business.
3
File a provisional patent. Provisional patent applications allow you twelve months to seek funding and commercial appeal for your invention, before having to file a full patent. Provisional patents cost only $120 to file, as opposed to full patents which can reach as high as $15,000.
4
Tell only your closest friends and family. After filing for a patent or provisional patent, you may use the term "Patent-pending" when describing your invention. That term discourages others from stealing your ideas, as doing so is illegal and can result in lawsuits. However, it's best to avoid the risk of invention theft altogether by telling no one except your closest friends and family.
You cannot possibly file for a "provisional patent". There is no such thing. It is a provisional application for a patent, meaning you're only reserving the right to LATER file an application for a patent. A provisional application does not result in any patent.
I have an idea for a product that can be compared in a way to the airplane travel pillow that wraps around your neck. Simple, inexpensive to make.
I have conducted a survey with people that tried it, though have not filed a provisional patent yet, which I know is risky. I will do that this week.
I want to license the idea, (the company would get a patent for it) what do I do next? Thank you.
