Does anyone have any experience with marketing an invention?
Answer:
Don't use the patent your invention companies.They just want your money . They pretend to help and ask for tons of money. In the end you have a piece of paper which is not worth anything.A patent on a product that wont sell is useless. So first you want to make sure there is a market for your product.You have a prototype i assume. Invest your own money or offer a chance to others to invest. build a few just to see if there is a market for your item before you sink a lot of time and money into it. Keep a record of what it cost to build and how many units you sell and at what price. When you see your product will sell then you can think about a patent and submitting it to industries. I have heard that if you mail your design plans or a prototype to yourself that it is as good as a patent. I do not know about this but it cannot hurt. Maybe a notarized piece of paper inside the box .My point is if you are creative enough to invent a working new product you don't have to pay thousands for a piece of paper saying it is yours. Check on inventors clubs with forums and maybe a chat room.I have invented dozens of things but i have yet to require a patent. Most i haven't completed the prototype for. If you find out any more please let me know.
yes u need patent first and a buget plan
Do you want to market the invention as a product you manufacture, or sell the idea? If the later, then you should patent it or you have no protection. All a patent does it prohibit someone else from manufacturing/selling your idea (without a license from you). However, if this is a well developed and mature product, and you are really ready to the hit the streets, I would forgo the patent (depending on what it is of course, i.e. what you think the market life might be) and simply get a jump on potential competitors and sell sell sell. In this last case, you want to keep your plans close to the vest. The best way to keep a secret is to not tell anyone. Getting a patent tells everyone your secret and, if it's good enough, people will steal or modify the idea and go to market. If you have a patent, and someone is infringing, plan to spend $1.5 million in attorney fees and court costs if it goes to trial.
You may want to talk with someone at the SBA to get a detailed perspective that cannot be covered here. Good luck.
The answers post by the user, for information only, BAnswer.com does not guarantee the right.
Other Questions and Answers: