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Dear Michael,
Your question is not original, as you probably already guessed. And it's a frustration for any inventor to have
a great idea and no money or connections to make it turn into a successful product on the market. Unfortunately,
there are a lot of scams that will MAKE YOU THINK they will sell your "idea" to industry and make you
rich. They advertise on TV, Radio, and in the back of magazines.
Don't fall for that Michael. It will only discourage you from creating new inventions. Evidentally you are creative
or you would not be seeking invention advice now -- OK?
The thing to do is educate yourself about what can be done without hurting yourself, and maybe make the right connection
to get your product subsidized by a company that will help you market your product. First, don't make the mistake
of thinking the first thing to do is get the product to market and get the money, then worry about mundane things
like protection and patent coverage afterwards. That's where the scam outfits operate -- making inventors think
that is the right way to go. It isn't. It's actually putting the cart before the horse, so to speak. You must protect
your idea in some manner before you go for the money.
OK, I know that's not what you want to hear. You want the money now, and think of those things later. Most inventors
think that way. My best advice to you right now is keep your mouth shut. Don't tell anyone about your idea until
you're ready to start a paper trail for protection.
The way to do that is to have a disclosure document signed by you and a witness, and start a log (journal) about
how and when you came up with the idea and what you've done about it. U.S. patent law is designed for the "first
inventor" to get the patent. Go to my website -- http//www.doncostar.com and look for the link "help
letter" underneath my picture. Click on that link and read that letter. It gives you good advice on how to
start. Download the forms you will need under "forms." Make sure your "witness" is someone
who will not benefit from your success, OK? No family member or employee or employer -- just a friend who can go
to court if necessary, and swear to the truth of what he/she signed. Someone who's only interest is to help you
establish a date of disclosure.
Now get on the phone or the internet and subscribe to the Inventors' Digest magazine. That magazine has a classified
section where you can find companies who are interested in your type of product AT THIS TIME. It is http://www.inventorsdigest.com
There's also another website that has information to help you find companies who might be interested in your product:
It is the UIA/USA organization. http//wwwuiausa.org You can click on both of them from my website. But be careful
you don't spend any money until you have done a patentability search and copied several patents that are in your
ballpark.
You must do that as a first thing to do. Just because you don't find your product on the market does not mean it
hasn't been invented by someone. If you can't do the search yourself, pay a professional to do it. But do it! You
can find a patent depository library address in your home town by going to the patent office website at http://www.uspto.gov
You can find companies to do the search in the Inventors' Digest if you decide you can't do it yourself. They're
ethical and dependable and won't cost you an arm. Probably $300 or less.
Now this is not what you want to hear, I understand, but you will do well to take a little advice from someone
who has been there and knows a little something. I hear from inventors who say they wish they had someone to give
them that advice before they got ripped off. (actually I'm one of them) It sounds wrong for someone to tell you
that work has to be done before anybody is going to give you money, but Michael, inventing is not easy, nor is
it cheap. There is no road to easy riches. You have to do some work and spend some money to prove to a buyer that
you are not some lazy ass that just fell off a turnip truck in order for them to take you seriously. That's pretty
blunt talk, but I think someday you'll say "that old geezer was right."
Good luck, if you get stuck send me an e-mail and I'll try to help.
Don Costar,
Founder Nevada Inventors Association
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