Posted on December 19, 2015
Patents are expensive, hard to get, difficult to understand and can cost a fortune to enforce. Trademarks are simple and cheap in comparison. While a patent lasts just 20 years, a trademark can last forever. A round of applause for trademarks! However, creating value in a trademark is incredibly hard. The words and/or logo do not have value until they are imprinted in the minds of consumers. That takes years of great marketing and publicity in conjunction with a great product or service and more often than not, millions of dollars in advertising. As part of a commercialization strategy, along ...
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Posted on October 30, 2014
Inventor feels ripped off by Invention Company. Is there anything to be done? S. Hemngway asks: "I submitted an idea to an invention company in 2002. I filled out the paperwork requiring drawing and descriptions of the idea. I never made a prototype or got a patent. It was a very good idea, especially since it's being sold today. The problem is that I am not the one selling it. I think the invention company stole my idea.back in 2002. I faxed them the paperwork with the drawing and description. They called me and told me it would cost x ...
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Posted on July 02, 2014
A young inventor asked for advice on how to get started. In particular he wanted to know how to get in touch with investors. Here was my reply: After graduating college I briefly worked for a reknowned photographer named Leigh Weiner. He told me a story about a photo shoot he'd done with J Paul Getty in 1967 back when Getty was the richest man in the world. He asked Getty for advice on how to succeed. Getty told him, "There's no one way to heaven." After three decades working in a wide range of businesses and with many inventions ...
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Posted on March 25, 2014
Hello Mike! this is Andres from Miami! I'm developing products and believe licensing is the way to go. My idea is to present my projects to companies in a professional way, combining my knowledge on marketing and branding with licensing. ...I find many books from authors who seem to be "successful " in their deals, but these experts are more successful selling books than explaining... the only good material on the entire web is Inventing 102 (at Invention City). Now my question, what would be the best way to start a good study on licensing? Which would be the best ...
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Posted on February 02, 2012
Irina asks:"You have mentioned that the product needs to be a stand alone and not an add-on to an existing product. Now this got me a bit confused in regards to my product which I am thinking of putting on DRTV. My product is a streak-free, natural, safe, glass cleaner that can be used for glass, mirrors, electronics, screens on tvs, computers, ipads and more. The market test was very positive. From your professional point of view do you think I should launch DRTV, is it an add-on?, any suggestions will be appreciated? Thank you."Stand-alone products are much easier to ...
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Posted on April 06, 2011
by Mike Marks Founder of Invention City GW asks: I have an invention which I believe best suited for the DRTV infomercial marketplace. The prototype works and market research says go. I'd like to license it to _______. However they say they do not sign NDA agreements! In fact all of the verbiage on their inventor submission page seems to basically say they can do whatever they want with your invention. That seems very suspicious to me, like they are trying to take advantage of inventors who are eager to get their ideas heard. When the president of the company ...
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Posted on January 19, 2011
Kevin asks: I designed a unique hand fan a while back and had a patent search done on it. The patent attorney told me not to get my hopes up because there’s a 50% chance that it has already been invented. Well, 2 weeks later, he told me that he couldn’t find anything on the market like it, and that I have a really good chance of getting it patented. So, about a week and half ago I filed for a provisional patent with the USPTO and now I’m waiting to get a patent number “Hopefully”. Other than that, I ...
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Posted on December 23, 2010
International Patent CostsSix Things to Know About PatentsThoughts on Patent DefenseMore About Invention Development, Licensing and Patent CostsBrutally Honest Review & Licensing OpportunitiesProvisional Patent Outline (Do It Yourself and save $$$)Note: The following information on patents is presented from the perspective of an experienced inventor. It is not legal advice. To understand how patent laws pertain to your invention and to manage the complexities of patent filings you should consult with a registered patent attorney or agent. Updated December 2023.There is no such thing as an International Patent or a World Patent, no single patent filing that will protect your ...
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Posted on November 18, 2010
Pamella asks: I am contacting you in search of a real, brutally honest answer regarding an invention company. I have paid several hundred dollars for the first stage of my invention. I am now at stage 2 - where the dollar amount substantially increases to nearly 10K as you indicate on your site. With the economy the way it is and my personal finances recovering, I am now reluctant to continue to move forward based on finances alone. Do you have any recommendations for me? Should I research investors? etc.... Is this company reputable? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank ...
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Posted on November 11, 2010
Dale asks: I have an invention idea that consists of a few pieces you can buy separately at most hardware stores. Is it worthwhile to pursue this idea or once people see it would they go out and get the materials and assemble it themselves? Thanks and have a great day! ============================== Combining existing items for a new and useful purpose is a classic form of invention. The fact that people could easily make the same combination once they learn about it is not a reason to drop the idea. However, if the patent examiner thinks the idea is "obvious" ...
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Posted on November 08, 2010
Blair asks: I am working on developing a product that is contingent on the size/measurements of a preexisting product that varies slightly from one type to the other. Is it possible to design my product using ratios rather than static measurements? For example, "Plane A of new invention is equal to a 1:0.9 the preexisting product's plane A." Plane A's Measurement will be written as "0.9:1"--thus making it 0.9 inches if the preexisting product has a length of 1 inch. Is this an acceptable practice? ================================ Disclaimer - I am not a patent attorney and am not qualified to give ...
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Posted on September 27, 2010
Gene writes: Relate to your comment on a blog post for going after company number two, rather than, the #1 company in a particular field. While watching the movie, "Flash of Genius", it struck me that his biggest downfall was having a friend who was a big shot at Ford. Then, he tried to manufacture the intermittent wiper himself. Seems to me, he should have been looking to speak to the companies who already sell wiper motors to Ford or want to. My idea is big on the order of magnitude of the intermittent wiper. It is a Continuously Variable ...
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Posted on September 16, 2010
Next Steps After Patent Pending or Patented.If you are thinking about licensing, Invention City's Brutally Honest Review is a great next step - you will get great feedback and a possible licensing offer from Invention City itself.Once you have a patent application filed you are in a position to create a presentation and get feedback from people who might buy and use your invention. Strong survey results from a professional platform like SurveyMonkey can be a big help in getting interest from potential licensees and investors. Catherine asks:I made prototypes and gave them to a number of people with ...
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Posted on September 09, 2010
Alfrida asks: We trusted a company to submit our invention but now we feel alone and that nothing is going to happen. We paid them $13,000 and all they did was send 120 letters to the manufacturers. Seven letters came back to us because the address was incomplete or incorrect. We also asked to them to give us the production drawings but they want more money to give us that information. Now they said that the construction of the prototype will cost around $100,000. We feel that we were very naïve now think that they just stole our money and ...
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Posted on August 23, 2010
August 23, 2010 - Doug in Birmingham asks, "How do I get money to patent and prototype my invention?" This is a big question that every inventor faces unless he or she is independently wealthy. It goes to the heart of what's required to be successful. In the beginning stages it's easy to think big and find ways to spend huge piles of money. The trick is to find ways to advance your project inexpensively. My view is that until you've created a prototyope you haven't invented a thing. The first step in getting money is to make a prototype ...
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Posted on August 12, 2010
Do you have a question about inventing that needs answers? Ask Invention City Founder Mike Marks. If he doesn't know the answer he'll try to find it out for you and answer it here. Just be sure you don't give away any confidential information with your question. ...
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