How to Protect Your Great Idea

It is not possible to protect ideas but rather the representation of that idea. To protect an original invention OR a significant improvement to an existing product, a patent would be filed. Click here for the USPTO's definition.

NOLO is a great, free informational site. Also, be sure to read what else the USPTO (United States Patent & Trademark Office) has to say about patents.

Associations may be a good avenue to explore. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet.

International Federation of Inventors' Associations
United Inventors Association
Directory of Local USA & Canada Groups

Research, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can. Check out the Amazon Widget to the right for recommended books. There are plenty of free informational resources out there.

Check out these articles:

Patent – How to Get One by Michael Russell
Invented Something? Get a Patent by Thomas Choo
How to Select a Patent Attorney by Lisa Parmley
How to Patent Your Invention by Neil Armand Can You Start Selling Your Invention Before Patenting It? by Xavier Pillai
Invention Help…Don't Get Scammed! by Emmet Press
Inventors: Make Sure Your Invention is a Success! by Lisa Parmley

Resources for Inventors

I was watching American Inventor last night and I realized I hadn't yet done a post for inventors. Has anyone seen this show? I'm consistently bowled over by these folks that have spent THOUSANDS of dollars on their inventions & then walk in with prototypes made of wood, PVC pipe, coat hooks, etc. & it got me wondering where did all that money go??

By the time the episode got to the middle-aged gentleman that had the cake cutter, I think I got my answer. One of the judges asked where he had spent the $30 some thousand dollars (of his retirement!) and he replied that he paid a company to conduct a patent search, file it & help him create it. ding ding ding - bells went off for me at that point.

I'm the first to admit that my knowledge of the entire scope of the patent process is minimal. I understand the concepts & some terms, basically bits and pieces. That being said, I cannot endorse or denounce any particular invention company but I thought it'd be a good idea to post some resources for all those inventors out there.

About.com has a great resource about how to avoid invention company scams.

They also have a very helpful checklist to use when speaking to an invention company.

Michael S. Neustel founded the National Inventor Fraud Center, Inc..

Check with the Federal Trade Commission to see if a company has been investigated or fined; enter the word INVENTION in the search box.

And, then the big patent daddy, the USPTO should definitely be visited.