Alan Millner ⋅ Lexington, MA MIT ⋅ 40 years experience

I am a SCORE mentor, and I have 11 patents of my own. I would be happy to help you.
Alan Millner
amillner@scorevolunteer.org

Tom Cal, CFA ⋅ San Francisco, CA Army Veteran, Investment Manager ⋅ 25 years experience

Direct your questions to local and remote mentors from SCORE.org.

Reach out to SCORE directly, and also message me, and I can also put you in touch with a SCORE mentor who is a lawyer and who has expertise related to patents.

Doug Hill ⋅ Kearneysville, WV PC Construction ⋅ 20 years experience

There are those success stories like the college student that took a new design for a prescription bottle to Target stores and they helped develop the idea into the odd shaped red bottle you get today. I recommend you protect your idea with a provisional patent or you will most likely see your idea done by someone else. Here is the uspto/gov template link
http://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/about/offices/ous/Cooper_Union_20130605.pdf
Also, research in depth the same uspto site to see if your idea has already been done. We like to think we are the only one that thought of the magic widget, but I had an invention I was working on when that I saw it in an article in a trade magazine. Fortunately for me, laws changed in the near future and the product was made illegal. And just to let you know the advice I received from someone that had over 50 patents is that he would never do another one. The patent only allows you to take a company to court that is making a knock off and tell them to stop. He said they have the perfect means and materials template as public information from the patent office. And he also told me a hard truth that I would put 5 - to 10 thousand into a patent that would probably not make a dime. So, go into it armed to the teeth and protect your idea like it was your child. Do not discuss it with ANYONE (includes family) that hasn't signed off on a non-disclosure agreement. Good Luck on your invention, I always like another magic widget!

Eugene Tuzkov ⋅ El Segundo, CA DIRECTV ⋅ 9 years experience

I listened to a Podcast several months back with inventor Stephen Key. This is his website - http://www.inventright.com/ ... maybe you will find some additional information there.

The podcast with Stephen Key is Episode 126 of "Smart Passive Income" series by Pat Flynn. You can listen to it on your iPhone/iPad via the Podcasts app. I semi recall there were some good info sprinkled throughout about patent process, pitching your invention ideas to companies, etc.

Sundeep Dronawat ⋅ Louisville, KY Payment Holdings ⋅ 25 years experience

You need $25000 to get a full patent. Most of the funds will go to a patent attorney.
You apply for a provisional patent. Then you have one year to apply for the full patent.
Then you wait. We waited 3 years. Then they ask you questions or limit the scope of the patent and you have to fight to get as much wide scope as possible.

Paul Holzschuher ⋅ Lebanon, OH Ohmart/Vega ⋅ 40 years experience

Hello Janelle
Thanks for contacting ACP.

I worked for two companies over 40 years.
One company patented every design and product application.
They spent millions of dollars and thousand of hours defending their patents.
One for their patent attorneys, told me in private "that any patent could be overturned with enough time and money".

The other company did not patent any design, product or application.
As director of engineering we stayed ahead for the competition and released new products every year.

In summary, if the market potential for your product is over very high and you have proved this with test marketing, then get a provisional patent and continue marketing your product.

Your licensing value will be enhanced with supporting past sales data.

Thanks,
Paul

Kimberly West ⋅ Long Beach, CA Personality-Ville, Treasure Map to Life ⋅ 20 years experience

Hello Janelle--

Congratulations on inventing something! I know the thrill of following your dreams. While, I have not patented a product, I have successfully obtained several U.S. and U.K. Registered Trademarks.

Recently, I have come across a book that I think would be worth reading before you invest any more time, effort and money into a patent. While I am very happy with my trademark choices, I wish I had read this book before. It's called "All In Startup" by Diana Kander.

Basically, she imparts good business advice in a fable format. One of the things she talks about is the "old way" of doing things: get a patent or trademark first. The "newer" way would be to do a series of "small bets" of trying out your idea before you invested, and "bet" a lot of money or time into getting a patent or trademark.

Feel free to reach out to me for any reason. Kimberly West

Ted Mittelstaedt ⋅ Portland, OR Portlandia IT LLC ⋅ 20 years experience

I also concur with Phil, only specialized method patents are worth it. If you can patent a method in some industry that is in the US, and has a lot of risk and exposure then you can make money from it. I can tell you that in high technology, since so much is manufactured in China and other Asian countries that have very poor IP protections, apparatus patents are often ignored and are expensive enough to defend, while you can just assume that any method patents will be ignored by everyone.

James Walker ⋅ Franconia, NH Innovative Structural Building Products ⋅ 38 years experience

I have several patents (both device and process) in the building industry and am in the process of vetting them with several companies for eventual licensing. For most patents, a license route is the most feasible path to success. Obtaining introductions to the right people in the right companies is most difficult and I've found consultants are best for this effort. Feel free to reach out with more specific questions. www.isbp.com james@isbp.com

Jeanne Perdue ⋅ Houston, TX Oxy ⋅ 35 years experience

Dear Janelle:
It's best to get a professional to guide you through the patent process. Look for an Intellectual Property Lawyer. Wendy Buskop is a good one here in Houston. Tell her I sent you. www.buskoplaw.com, (713) 275-3400
- Jeanne Perdue

Bob Lambrechts ⋅ Overland Park, KS Lathrop & Gage ⋅ 20 years experience

Janelle,

I am a patent attorney located in Kansas City and would happy to discuss your questions. You can reach me at blambrechts@lathropgage.com.

Bob Lambrechts

timothy mcclain ⋅ Cary, NC MetLife ⋅ 10 years experience

Did you try attending one of those sessions for military entrepreneurs? One I did was called the Patriot Boot Camp. I mentored a number of folks there this past summer and some had some cool, whiz-bang ideas. i would start there if you want practical, face-to-face professional advice regarding invention design, marketing, distribution and manufacturing. THEN...........get some funding and launch your product.

Phil Marcoux ⋅ Mountain View, CA PPM Associates ⋅ 40 years experience

The last company I co-founded specialized in Intellectual Property creation (patents) in Silicon Valley. We generated over 40 patents in the area of semiconductor packaging, including the packages used in the camera modules in many mobile phones.

We had originally planned to manufacture the patented products but quickly realized that was too expensive and risky. Instead we sold licenses -- over a span of 10 years we had license, prototype development, and patent sales exceeding $20M.

We ended up selling all of the patents to a company that specializes in buying and licensing patents. This company unknown to us was in the class of IP companies called Patent Trolls. This exposed me to the uglier side of the US patent system.

I can go into more details later. However, there are two types of fully issued patents - method and apparatus. Method patents in my opinion are not worth their cost (approx. $70K) and to defend (> $1M).

If you have an idea for an apparatus (a thing) but aren't sure of your ability to make it and sell it then I recommend filing for a provisional patent and enjoy a one year of protection while you see if it's viable. Provisional patents cost less than $1K.

Charles Krause ⋅ Glendale, AZ CJK, Inc ⋅ 40 years experience

Janelle -

I think you will find the SCORE mentors very helpful.

Janelle Quinn ⋅ Apo, AE U.S. Air Force, Major ⋅ 18 years served

Hello Alan, I have been reviewing the SCORE website for insight, and I will contact you directly. Thank you!