Marketing an Invention: Tips on Invention Companies

Don't be conned into partnerships or deals that go nowhere and cost you money.

While traveling in my car I heard an advertisement that piqued my interest. The announcer said if I had an invention lying around my garage collecting dust, I should contact this particular company by calling their 800 number. They would give me a free evaluation of my product and would send me – also for free – the documents I would need to file a patent in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. They offered to help “try to submit your ideas, inventions, and new products to industry, and obtain patent services.”

I, of course, have heard these ads before. This time I was reminded that I want to tell you that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Sorry to say, no one is really going to give you something for nothing.

Anyone could give you a free evaluation of your new product; even friends and family can give you good advice. The forms you need to file for patents are free for the asking at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office either via their Web page http://www.uspto.gov/ or by mail. Details about filing for patents are included.

Sometimes when you ask people you know for advice or for an evaluation of your product idea, they may not say exactly what you want to hear and it can be disappointing. You can either take their advice and make changes or you can decide that you want to proceed with the product as is, but please don’t be led into getting involved with one of these invention companies.

It is very flattering to have someone show great interest in a new product you have spent perhaps months, or even years, developing. It also is easy to have someone take advantage of you at that point.

You want to get back some of the money you have spent. You really want your product to be successful. When someone comes along and tells you that they think you have a great new product idea and they will help you get it to market, you want to believe them.

Unfortunately the process of getting a product to the marketplace is not an easy one. You will run into many different roadblocks.

You will probably need to pay a lawyer for the patent process and you will probably have to pay someone to prepare a working prototype for you. These people may or may not get a cut of the future profits depending on the deal you have made with them.

If you have a product that you want to be successful on the market, you must find the people who would be interested in that product– either a company that will produce it or someone who will license it.

Don’t be conned into handing off your idea to someone who tells you they will do all the work for you for thousands of dollars in fees…only to have your product languish in oblivion!

Article – Copyright 2001 Stanley I. Mason. Syndicated by Paradigm News, Inc.

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