invention received a patent

invention received a patent
Every television viewer has the Infomercial on the spot, the lost, the would-be inventors, crushed, their idea successfully marketed by another party. He has not a patent. The answer to the trade, contact an invention submission companies, a patent, market your product or opportunity, thousands of corporate decision makers, get rich. This is the American dream, is it not?

One of the saddest aspects of my work as the development of new products and marketing consultant, the whole area of invention submission companies. We see many of the entrepreneurs every year: mentally torn, financially rocked, hopes exhausted after their experience with the invention mills. In a series of cases real opportunity has been slaughtered. In many other cases, the product or service offered would never be a realistic viable commercial opportunity and any capable consultant would honestly advise.

In essence, these dream merchants boiler rooms. After viewing the commercial and calling the toll free number, the inventor of a seller. Presentation materials forwarded promises and costs are discussed. Many entrepreneurs do not have the necessary investment funds according to patents, create prototypes, carry out the exploration and production of documents necessary to the professional product.

The invention mills, however, usually offer home financing and to advise that they take care of all the necessary elements for the professional investor enthusiasm, or a license. Often at usurious interest rates, the inventors hope makes a payment on their dream, finance the balance, and seduced by the idea of wealth, fully buys into the program. Then reality quickly rears its ugly head.

The patent application

There are two types of patents, utility models and design. Only utility has real value, the special safeguard measures. The design patent can be easily overcome with basic art and design changes to a product. Moreover, a relatively new class was filing the provisional patent. Essentially provisional patent is a simple letter to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's announcement of the agency that you have an idea and are keen to pursue. It offers virtually no protection.

The provisional patent costs almost nothing to file and have a maturity of exactly one year from the date of the application. The provisional must then be changed so that the utility or design a new application. The invention companies have in-house law firm routinely spit out that the provisional applications and offer this as proof for the inventor, that the real patents and protections secured. Inexperienced, gullible first time entrepreneurs often believe that their product is genuine patent.

After the preliminary 12-month period ends, that is not with a program application. The result, product rights are being fully released. The inventor has a temporary lapse and the Company's presentation away from the pursuit of the truly valuable, and much more expensive, utility patent applications.

Ensuring a valuable, solid patent protection is the advertised benefits of the invention viewers hear commercials. If a patent that important, precious? Yes and no. Of course, a utility patent immense value for each product. Given the choice, we recommend exercising any patent, copyright and trademark claim possible. However, there are also many non-patented, highly successful products on the market.

Patent strategy is crucial. It takes a really experienced patent attorneys, fully on securing all possible protection. This is not available invention submission companies.

Create a prototype

It is almost impossible to successfully market a new product, without compromising the quality prototypes. This requires diligence, creativity, highly developed skills and equipment. The steps are usually a mix of creative meetings, several 3-D, Computer Assisted Graphics (CAD) drawings, a rough model, styling tweaks, and then the final model (s). The art is important, such as exhibitions in utility patent applications, as an instrument for the source of supply and costs to determine the goods. The models reaffirm commitment to the features and benefits, product uniqueness and profitability. Invention mills offer virtually nothing about it.

The inventor receives an in-house pieces, which 3-D art. That's it! No models, prototypes or hardware! This will be the basis for the campaign to market the template for the sale, joint venture or a license. And it can not work, ever.

The inventor provides a verbal description, or self-generated renderings, which are revised from in-house artists. There is almost never face to face meetings, for the creative process. The result is a work of art that appears to the inexperienced. This is the prototype. It is sophomoric, unusable for the intended purpose of exciting investors.

The marketing of the invention

With the patent (provisional, of little value) and model (a drawing, not the value) in the hands of the product is ready for sale, supposedly. Sales, marketing or partner is a product opportunity requires hard work and contacts, research, experience in very specific areas, networking, participation in fairs and tenacity. Not a word heard many, many times more frequently than the word yes is heard.

How does the invention template approach for the company? They take shortcuts and links are death to chance. Direct Number One is blind mailings. A list of companies and names used and a letter, a copy of the art and nothing more than a text message via e-mail. Anyone can be based on the results of this approach. Executives and corporate decision makers to junk e-mail, and that is what this kind of original.

The Inter-net is a wonderful invention, and, of course, the invention clearing houses really enjoy this tool, code-two. Mass e-mailings, unsolicited, also known as junk e-mails are a group favorite. The results are always the same, not much.

Direct number three, the product will be an encyclopedia of the company in the past, the product, and the book is as a repository of business opportunities for marketing. One copy is for the display or the on-line access is available. Unfortunately, this is completely reversed the normal development of the.

Many, many other products, as a house, there are apartments for successful placement. The products must be sold and marketed with aggression, power and creativity. Passivity is a model for the disorder and this is the approach of the invention submission companies with these strategies.

I have a lot of inventors, "Did you pray for a successful product placement references"? They universally answer, "I was told that because of the confidentiality agreement they signed, they could no specific product names and details". This is gibberish and a ruse. A successful product placement is, by nature, sold on the open market. It is no secret anymore.

Here are some important keys to be used for the survey or for help in the marketing or launching a new product:

Require face to face interview before hiring a company or consultant.

Demand references of successful campaigns.

Demand for successful product design.

Check the company with Better Business Bureau, States Attorney General.

Demand for a patent for a program application.

Demand for a template of processes the company uses.

Break out costs for each service.

Will there be a customized business plan.

Interview more than one company at least three.

Ask many questions and if you do not give a clear, precise answers, walk away. There are competent, professional assistance for all projects.

Geoff Fick is the President of Duquesa Marketing, Inc. an international consulting firm with over 35 years experience in the creation of individual strategies and business plans, product development and promotional opportunities for entrepreneurs, inventors and small business expansion. Mr. Fick is also a Senior Fellow at the Page Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at the Business School, Miami University, Oxford Ohio. He can be reached at 407-260-1127 or via the company's website, http://www.duquesamarketing.com.