Julian

[Julian]

Hi, Adam. A similar thing happened to a friend of mine. He signed over his invention to a marketing company in exchange for a promise of $. But nothing ever happened. He didn’t lose any money, but he lost time.
The internet provides us with the means of directly meeting our customers online. That goes for direct sales, as well as licensing your product etc.
I’ve been working on the idea of ‘affinity marketing groups’; you team up with inventors in the same product category/industry and create an online presence as a group.

I’m learning and improvising. Hence there will be a number of changes in the near future.
It’s time to think outside of the box. Team up with your peers. Create win-win opportunities using the internet. Create high-quality theme-based invention-marketing-selling communities with good people. Set up an affiliate program between members of your group, plus a link to other high-quality groups. Base the commissions on sales. I hope in this way, we can help ourselves in marketing our inventions.

[Julian]

I think you are right about that. You might try the Patent and Trademark site, or United Inventors Association site. But you should ask yourself if your product really needs international protection. It is very expensive for starters. If your major country for sales will be here, why look farther?

[Julian]

If I licensed my product I would make $2.45 on each piece. I make $26.00 by being a part of the manufacturing operations.

If I licensed they would probably put some kid on the marketing because it is a costly product launch and the senior marketing people are making much more for the company on higher volume products. I am the driver for all marketing on my product. No one can match my passion in the first place!

If I licensed a manufacturer can push my baby aside for some of their other products. They more or less care about numbers as a priority. This is my baby, even if I was not to make piles of cash I am the one pushing from behind my product, and it is an enjoyable adventure!

If I license my product they could modify and call their own and outright take the idea if they can get around the patent. They surely will try, but that is business. I manufacture because I “sit” right on top of all operations. No one will take it from me! PLUS….being “in the ring” I get to make all kinds of other related products because I am hands on. Maybe a licensor won’t let me fully use their facilities to come up with more ideas.

If I license I can blame them for dissatisfaction. I can kick and scream but I don’t know if they would even care. Manufacturing, I have no one to blame but myself and if I ever I want an answer..I just look to myself and have it immediately!

If I license will they really care about my product’s AND my future the way I wish? NO! Manufacturing I have control of that, I put in for what I want out.

I chose this way to do it myself with this thick-headed mentality to build a bigger empire like Steve Jobs, Ray Croc, Bill Gates, Henry Ford, Ron Poppeil (the infomercial guy with piles of kitchen gadgets 10 years ago), Dave Thomas (founder of Wendy’s), Milton Hershey

How do you think great American companies started? IBM, Microsoft, Apple, Wal-Mart, 3M, McDonalds, Hershey. These thick-headed people like me saddled up their idea and decided THEY would ride their dream themselves off to the sweet land of great success.

Last, a personal reason. Does anyone know the main program that Bill Gates bought for 50G’s to further develop into Microsoft software systems? Does anyone know his name? I’ll answer that….no…maybe he jumped off a bridge cause he made himself sick!

He got 50G’s and Bill got 50 Billion and became the richest man in the world.

[Julian]

Hi. the best tip to avoid scammers in the marketing field is to join a local inventor group. It is very important to network with inventors in your area. Contact a local inventors group and attend a meeting before going further with the invention process. Ask the experienced inventors in the group for guidance and support. We have a listing of Inventors Groups for you to contact in this website. kindly have look here.

[Julian]

Hi….you can seek patent info from uspto.org. many people are choosing to forgo the patent process in order to take advantage of first market sales simply realize that you would be most likely giving up any rights to patent your product due to prior public disclosure. Only you can weigh the risk it’s highly likely that if you have a popular product someone will knock you off and without any patent protection you would lose any rights to be compensated for your invention however maybe that doesn’t matter in your case maybe you would make enough money where it didn’t matter those are Personal decisions….. and yes I agree it would be best to talk to your attorney so that you understand what you would be giving up even assuming you could be granted a patent…which is no guarantee, of course, best to you. There is one other compelling argument for a patent search and that is you may be inadvertently infringing on another patent and find yourself at the wrong end of this deal where you would owe somebody money for infringing on their patent… So tread carefully

[Julian]

Hi, Lucy no problem. Every kind of question is welcome here. Don’t feel shy we are here to help. So, there are multiple ways through which you can save your idea from a scam. You can always go for the patent, trademarks or copyrights.
Basically, through a patent, the government gives you the right to exclude others from making, using or selling your invention from the day the patent is granted to a maximum of 20 years after the day you filed the patent. Patents are generally granted on criteria such as their novelty, utility, and ingenuity, or in simpler terms if they are new, useful and not obvious to someone skilled in the relevant field.
Trademarks
A trademark is defined as a word, symbol or design used to distinguish the wares or services of one person or organization from those of others in the marketplace. It’s different from a trade name, which is essentially the name under which you conduct your business.
Copyright
Copyright gives an owner the sole right to copy his or her work or permit someone else to do so.
A copyrighted work is an original literary, artistic, musical and/or dramatic work. Copyright usually lasts for the life of the author, plus another 50 years. By taking advantage of your copyright, you will have exclusive right to stop someone else from reproducing your work.
I hope this helps and best of luck for the future.

[Julian]

I am sharing my personal experience with you, Theresa. I hope that helps.

[Julian]

Hi, Theresa. Here are a few steps you can take to help prevent theft as you begin to share your ideas with others besides applying for the PPA (as it is already mentioned by Maia above).
• One of the best ways to secure your idea is to only reveal what is absolutely necessary. If you’re pitching an idea to a potential client, give only the details necessary to convey the idea.

• A non-disclosure agreement can help protect your idea before revealing it to workers or other associates. However, from my personal interaction with the investors, it’s important to note that many they will hesitate at signing an NDA before you speak with them. Since the balance of power is in their favor, this may be something you’ll have to give up if you want investors. The same holds true for potential clients. The solution is that Instead of requiring a signature; consider simply printing a confidentiality statement on your business plan.

• A trademark can provide an additional layer of protection since a company’s name is often tied closely with its idea.

• Whether you’re revealing an idea to a potential investor, possible clients, or a contractor, do your part in researching that person or company prior to your appointment.

• In the last, you always have to rely heavily on your sixth sense. If you feel something is fishy, it more probable that it is fishy. You must highly regard your intuition in such matters.

[Julian]

According to my experience, most of the companies would license the innovation that has patent or PPA. As you want to save your invention, they too want to save it from competitors’ infringement. And the best way is to get PPA for your invention and then license it.

[Julian]

Hi, Maia put it simply for everyone to understand. I only want to add further one thing that is at the end if no company is interested in your innovation and you are sure about its utility to customers, another alternative is for you is to finance the manufacturing of your idea on a small-scale.
If you’re successful in selling-out your initial run; you may find investors to help you expand your manufacturing capabilities. Good Luck from my side as well.

[Julian]

The National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF) is an American organization which recognizes individual investors who hold a U.S. patent of highly significant technology. I was going through their list some time ago and have read about her. It’s a great achievement for her and obviously a great invention of utility for human beings.

[Julian]

Excellent Theresa. Your last line “double check that your solution is beneficial, desirable and marketable” makes me think of a famous quote by Edison

anything that won’t sell, I don’t want to invent. Its sale is proof utility, and utility is success.

[Julian]

And don’t forget that investing time is more important than investing money. Take your time to work for your idea to become reality instead of throwing money left and right hoping someone else would take care of it. Usually people don’t have the funds to do that, but I have seen people do it.

You should start working on your idea when you’re ready to fully commit to it.

[Julian]

Thank you everyone for your advice, it’s made it clear to me what I should do next. I’ve decided to wait until I get my patent and I’ve already talked to them about it. I’m happy to report they were open to it and they totally got my point of view. So now it’s all a matter of time before they can post and I can get some publicity myself.

[Author]

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