» Fact or Fiction
Separating FICTION from FACT
What follows are some of the most common questions we hear from people - all indicating misunderstandings or incorrect perceptions...
I wrote a letter in which I sketched out my idea, described how it works, had it notarized, mailed it to myself, and haven't opened it. Doesn't that protect my idea?
This is commonly referred to as the "Poor Man's Patent." The problem is it isn't valid. Yet, sad to say, thousands of inventors have been led to believe that following this procedure provides legal protection. The FACT is there are only two ways to establish priority under patent law. One is by filing for a patent and paying the thousands that process requires. The second is to use the method corporations have relied on for years which individuals know little about. That method involves keeping proper documentation in an acceptable Laboratory Notebook, utilizing the "first-to-invent" provision in the U.S. Patent Law. This is the method we teach in our INVENTASSIST PROGRAM.
Can't I get a patent application form, quickly fill it out, and mail it to the patent office myself?
The assumption behind this question is that it's easy to file for a patent — and that it can be done quickly. The FACT is neither are true. Keep in mind that patent attorneys complete law school and then take additional schooling in patent law. Brain surgeons complete medical school and then take specialized training in brain surgery. If you wouldn't perform brain surgery on yourself, don't even think about filing for a patent yourself. And there's nothing quick about the patent process ... it takes 24-48 months for the average patent to issue. Our INVENTASSIST PROGRAM will guide you all the way from protecting your idea right through your negotiations to sell it to a manufacturer. At that point a patent may be required, but you won't have to pay for it. The company who buys your idea will take care of everything.
By doing a patent search, I can find out for sure whether my product exists, right?
Even the most thorough patent search is no guarantee that a product doesn't exist. The FACT is that searches are often inaccurate even if done professionally. A more significant FACT is that the majority of products are in the marketplace without patents. Big companies can saturate the marketplace, making it unwise for others to try to compete. A third FACT is that products in the "patent pending" phase will not show up in a patent search until the patent is issued. Our Inventor's IntroPac provides some important tips on how you can do a search on your own — one that could enhance your ideas and save both time and money.
I was quoted $2,500 to file for a patent. Does that sound about right?
The FACT is government application, issuance, and maintenance fees alone total over $4,000. Beyond that, "filing for a patent" is technically only a small part of the process. If a patent includes broadly encompassing claims (as it should), your attorney will need to "argue" those claims before a patent examiner. This is often where most of the total patent process cost is incurred. Generally, a patent handled by a reputable patent attorney — including government fees — will cost between $15,000 and $30,000. Compared to that, investing in our INVENTASSIST PROGRAM is a drop in the bucket. Plus, a patent only covers one invention. You can use our program for as many ideas and inventions as you can dream up — without ever paying again!
My idea is so simple, wouldn't someone have thought of it before?
Many inventors feel this way and do nothing with their "simple" idea. Then they see it in the marketplace and it's too late. The FACT is these simple ideas often are the most valuable. And all the simple ideas have not yet been thought of ... the most obvious is often missed! Our INVENTASSIST PROGRAM can be used for all your ideas — simple or complicated.
I don't think I'm an inventor — I just have an idea. Is that worth anything by itself?
It very well may be worth a lot of money! The FACT is it's the concept that has value — not how it looks, what it's made of, or even how it works. What it does determines its value. So if your idea does something that would help people do something better, go for it. If a company buys that idea from you, they have all the capabilities to engineer, produce and market it. Again, our INVENTASSIST PROGRAM will take you step-by-step through the whole process, getting your idea into the marketplace without spending thousands!
YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE!
The above represents only a few of the many questions inventors need to have answered regarding the protection and successful marketing of their ideas. Our Inventor's IntroPac will have answers to many important protection / marketing questions, and provide you with a better understanding of the world or ideas and inventions.