NEVADA INVENTORS ASSOCIATION
March's 2002 Newsletter
"Education, Assistance, and
Networking for the Inventor"
To go to the main Page or the news letters and then
the old articles Page, up till Dec 1999.
Your Intellectual Property is a Terrible Thing to Waste
Do you really need an Intellectual Property Attorney to protect your invention?
Whether you have created the Great American Novel, software that is Bill Gates' nemesis, or the next hot new gadget,
if you want to gain financially from your hard work, you need to protect your intellectual property.
The question is "What is the best way to go about this?" Generally speaking, a piece of writing is technically
copyrighted as soon as it is produced. That's probably because there is so little profit potential in the average
written piece that there is rarely motivation to appropriate it. But what if you have invented a supper-nifty widget
that market research has indicated there will be a hot market for? Is this really a good time to try to save money
by not using a patent attorney?
At the March 23 NIA meeting we will find out. Our speaker is Barbara Luther, a patent attorney with the Sierra
Patent Group at Stateline, Nev.
She will speak about licensing negotiation skills, especially from the other side--that is, the point of view of
the large company looking to market a new invention. She will also furnish and explain a glossary of terminology,
and she will discuss the major points of agreement. Perhaps her most important material will be recommendations
for when to contact an attorney.
Ms. Luther has been in practice for more than a decade. She boasts the highest rating from the Martindale-Hubbell
Law Directory, a listing service of peer-ratings of attorneys in the U.S. and Canada. Her rating level indicates
"exceptional ability and high ethical standards."
Come with your questions and Ms. Luther will be happy to answer them.
Calendar March 23, 2002 Regular Meeting 9 a.m.-noon
April 27, 2002 Regular Meeting 9 a.m.-noon
May 25, 2002 Regular Meeting 9 a.m.-noon
June 22, 2002 Regular Meeting 9 a.m.-noon
July 2002 TBA
August 2002 State Fair Dates TBA
No regular meeting
How's your DQ?
Don't start salivating;
"DQ" used here refers to your "Design Quotient."
According to Management Guru Tom Peters's 1997 book The Circle of Innovation: You Can't Shrink Your Way to Greatness,
"Design is it!" and "Design is GIANT OPPORTUNITY."
Peters isn't the only one who sees the importance of design. The introduction for the Hour Two of NPR's "Science
Friday" for Feb. 1, 2002 states, "There's both an art and a science to a great design. A good design
makes an experience with an object more productive, less frustrating - and more fun. "
As an inventor, consider some of his points:
* "Design for surprise." Give the customer more than he or she dreamed of needing.
* "Embrace risk." you could face rejection - or marvelous success.
* Look for poor designs that you can invent an improvement for.
For anyone wanting to invent something but isn't sure what, many products can be improved. Look around. Think of
little things that could make a big difference. Think of everyday problems people have and how to solve them. What
about someone with a latex allergy who has a problem with contemporary kitchen tools? Do you know a gardener who
has trouble bending? Does the cupholder in your vehicle work with your favorite cup? Could you improve on the design
of either product? Now think of what you can do with the less obvious.
Peters makes the following points in a "Design 1.0 opportunity kit."
1. Open your eyes to [things you like and dislike].
2. Read
3. Tear out and read great illustrations, great junk mail, etc.
4. Be on the lookout for good forms...good letters...good business cards. . .etc.
5. Analyze instructions and signage [both of which should be easy to understand and follow].
6. Create two file folders: "neat" and "crappy."
7. Go on a less-than-$10 buying spree [and look for "neat stuff"].
8. Start a notebook from both ends: "neat" and "crappy."
9. Translate. [Look at designs of items that seem not to be related to your own inventing interests, and think
of ways to translate good elements and eliminate bad ones in order to create a fantastic product.]
Now, one last question: Is your "Design Quotient" working for you?
The Nevada Inventor is a community resource published monthly by the Nevada Inventor's Association. This association
is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. This newsletter's mission is: To further the mission of NIA by educating
and informing members, to promote the organization throughout the broader community of northwestern Nevada, and
to recruit new members.
"We should do something when say it is crazy. If people say 'good', it means someone else is already doing
it" -Hajime Mitarai,Dresident. Canon
NEWS FROM THE NET
Of approximately 1,000 entries in the CBS News Early Show idea contest, there were approximately 1,000 winners,
according to the UIA Bulletin of Mar. 6, 2002.
While only one person won the grand prize and five people were listed as finalists, there were no losers in this
non-contest. Instead, the purpose of this project was 'to promote the positive image of independent inventors....We
are hoping to complete many more such programs in the future. It is important to keep this positive image in front
of Corporate America and the American consumer."
To view the most popular entries, voted on by CBS viewers, go to
http:// www.inventorhelp.com/cbswinner.htm.
Do you have an invention you might like to have marketed through QVC? They will be conducting their national product
search Apr. 27-2S, 2002 at the Mall of America, Bloomington, Minn.
This search is geared for inventors, designers and manufacturers to provide opportunities to show innovative consumer
products to QVC representatives.
The weekend will also include workshops in marketing, sales and product development for vendors and inventors.
Advance registration is necessary. Contact www.QVCproductsearch.com or at 1-866-302-4633.
The Nevada Inventors' Association 2002 Officers
President Dr. Bill Torch 329-4060
Vice President John Martinson 747-1650
Secretary/Treasurer Vince Chemist 677-0123
Sergeant at Arms Floyd Krebs
Programs Carol FoldvaryAnderson
1-775-267-5365 NIA Founder Don Costar 322-9636
Web Master Vince Chemist 677-0123
Newsletter Editor Connie Benedict 787-3640 ccbenedict@775.net
Results of last month's poll Thanks to those of you who took the time to fill out the interest cards enclosed in
the last newsletter. The tally showed you were most interested in News of member achievements and least interested
in Trends and Business information.
Number two was Meeting announcements; three was Resources; and Protecting ideas and How-tos tied for fourth place.
There was a three-way tie for fifth between Pitfalls, Reno-based inventors/inventions and Member profiles. Number
six was Current inventor events.
Meanwhile, I can't share news of member achievements with you if you don't share them with me first.
Bring your news to the meeting, mail it to me at 1230 Freddie Ct., Reno 89503, or
e-mail me at ccbenedict@775.net.
Websites of interest:
Science Friday on National Public Radio: www.sciencefriday.com
KKTO Public Radio, Lake Tahoe, Reno: www.capradio.org.
The Todd Mundt Show: www.toddshow.org.
Inventors' Digest: www.inventorsdigest.com
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Created on May 5 2002
Updated on November 29, 2005