Getting Help With Your Invention
Who can I trust to help me with my invention?
Obviously if you have an idea and you've gotten to the point of talking to your patent attorney, you can trust your patent attorney, because he's bound by some legal responsibility and codes and he's there to keep your idea a secret. You can also work with inventors - online and social groups. There's a couple different websites. One is United Inventor's Association USA - UIAUSA.com, amazing website. What makes it unique is that there are these groups and forums that you can talk to. Most people are talking generals, no specifics. You can get help that way online. Then, you can also get help from friends and family, as I've said. You can also get help from customers through feedback. But the most important person is you, you can help yourself by listening to the feedback loop and listening to how the product is developing and making those changes.
What resources will help me with my invention?
There are a number of great rescores. There's a product design firms in every City that will help you get your concept to market. They tend to be expensive because it's an expensive process, but they have a proven track record. Similar to making an album; very expensive to go and buy the mixing boards, the sound rooms, it's better to rent a recording studio and have somebody help you to produce these. You're only going to be there for four hours; as long as you have your decks in a row you can get in and get out. If you can't afford that, then you go on Google and you search ‘Inventor and Network', you'll find a small club that will get together and people will share ideas and processes on how to get things done and that's all for free.
What government agencies should every inventor know about?
There is one and it's the most important government agency in reference to inventing and patents and trademarks. It's the United States Patent Trademark Office. You need to go online and you need to research and read their information. They are the governing body behind issuing patents and trademarks. What you need to remember is that they are the watchdogs and protective agency of patent holders. Their job is to review patents and determine if they are approved or not approved.
How can I network with other inventors?
The best way of networking with inventors is harnessing the power of the internet. You'll find a lot of inventors in small towns, and you'll find a lot of inventors working out of their garage, and they really, everyone's tired of hearing them talk about their inventions because they have a thousand ideas and nothing gets done. But, if you go on to United Inventor's Association; UIAUSA.com, you'll find with $97 subscription, I'm not even a member, but I love this organization; that you can ask an expert. You can actually go on and ask an expert in every aspect of inventing, product design, material selection by paying for the subscription. I receive emails daily asking me as an expert on green design and I constantly respond. I'm not even a member, but they know that I have the answers and they send me the information. But, you pay for this on line, and then what's great is you get updates and newsletters but you're able to network and ask an expert for free.
