I have an idea for a new product/invention. How do I get it off the ground?
Answer:
Start by not trying to swallow the elephant. (You're looking for a TON of information in very little space.)
You could try to go to a place like InventTech or InventorsHelpLine or InventionHome, etc. Those all involve other people in something you may want to keep to yourself. On the other hand - they know how to patent, market and produce. You choose - give up a piece of the pie or give up a ton of time in learning how to do it yourself!
PATENT: http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/howtopa.
If you think you have a great invention and want to have it patented, you must file an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The process can be complicated. Your idea must be explained clearly to a patent examiner to determine whether it is new and useful. You must have an illustration of the device in action. Many people hire patent attorneys, which can be very expensive, to make sure that their patents conform to the U.S. Patent Office rules. If you get a patent, your invention will be assigned a unique number and you alone will have the right to sell your device. For more information, contact the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office at Crystal Plaza 3, Room 2C02, Washington, DC, 20231, or visit their website at www.uspto.gov .
Answers to your questions of how to market and how to produce depend on your invention. Try to find similar products and discover how those items were marketed and produced.
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