DO IT YOURSELF!
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RESOURCES FOR INVENTORS
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First of all, you need to be aware that shady people continually take advantage of inventors like us. First rule of inventing - trust no one before doing your homework! Fortunately, there are several organizations that will advise you who you can and who you should not trust. A great place to begin is the National Inventor Fraud Center at http://www.inventorfraud.com. They offer these tips to get started:
Don't Rush. Never "rush" into the invention process. Make sure to take your time before making important decisions that affect you and your invention. Rarely are there situations where an inventor needs to make a decision within a few days.
Investigate. Thoroughly investigate any invention promotion company BEFORE providing them with your invention or money. You can visit the FTC web site (www.ftc.gov) to search for information about invention marketing companies.
Education. Educate yourself about the invention process and invention marketing companies. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) have several informative articles for inventors to read prior to starting the invention process:
Scam Prevention (USPTO)(PDF) http://www.uspto.gov/patents-getting-started/using-legal-services/scam-prevention
Invention Promotion Firms (FTC) https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0184-invention-promotion-firms
Spotting Sweet Sounding Promises of Fraudulent Companies (FTC) http://ipwatchdog.com/invent-v-ipwatchdog/20-MAO-ex-1.pdf
"Objective" Evaluations. It is important to have an objective invention "marketability" evaluation performed by a third-party. If the company you are considering will not evaluate the marketability of your invention, then seek the assistance of another company which will (see the Good Guys list at the Inventor Fraud website).
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.
Before you begin, familiarize yourself with patent terminology and the basics of the patenting process. A great place to begin is here:
http://www.uspto.gov/patents-getting-started/general-information-concerning-patents.
You can also call 1-800-786-9199 for a free government patent booklet complete with examples.
We look forward to meeting you at our next SCIG meeting!