BecomingWhoYouWantToBe

Of course your innovative new idea can positively change your life. But before you proceed with the required development and marketing, it needs to be protected! Unfortunately there are unscrupulous folks out there that won’t hesitate to steal your dreams. Until your invention or idea is protected, your options are very limited.

But just HOW do you implement and maintain that all-important protection? Broadly speaking, there are three ways: Secrecy, a full Patent, or a provisional Patent. You need to determine the best fit for you, your finances and your particular idea or invention. Here is a peek at each:

Secrecy – world famous Coca Cola was family-run and kept their products ’secret formula’ a secret for generations. Secrecy works best for processes or for products not easily reverse engineered. Long-term, however, it’s almost impossible to keep a secret. If you go this route, you will need deep pockets if you intend to avoid outsider involvement. You will have to finance the production and distribution of your product on your own.

Full Patent – Mechanical, technical or electronic products likely cannot be protected by the secrecy method. This will require a full patent (at least ultimately). Patents are very expensive if your use a company that caters to budding inventors. These full patents, however, really need the expertise of an attorney, which is even more expensive. But if you can afford it, this is the absolute best option!

Provisional Patent – this is still very effective, and if funds are limited, it’s probably your best option. The provisional application for patent gets ‘your foot in the door’. Easily attained, ?Patent Pending’ can then be displayed with the description of your innovation. For an entire year, it will be protected. Your valuable time can then be directed toward finding partners, promoters, or backers.

With a full or provisional patent, you can safely disclose your idea and negotiate with companies to develop, manufacture, promote, sell and distribute your innovation. You can easily negotiate for signing fees, royalties and commissions. Your creativity can then turn to new ideas and inventions!

To repeat, a full patent is extremely expensive and should not be attempted without an experienced patent attorney. But filing a provisional application for patent can be done completely on your own. You could start by going to the website of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Here you will find hundreds of forms and many pages of instructions for each form. It could take you 12 – 15 hours to read and do the research, if you have the time and inclination, but you will learn a lot. Eventually, you will determine just those few forms needed for the provisional patent application (PPA). For even more help there are many readily available kits.

So here’s the key: time is of the essence! Don’t wait and let your idea be patented by someone else. Research the required forms thoroughly but quickly. If reading government forms and instructions isn’t for you, then one of these inexpensive kits might be your preferred solution.

Most of the better kits either list or actually contain the forms needed — and only those forms needed. While some include the ‘government instructions’ for every line of each form, the more user-friendly kits should give you simplified, plain-English directions, for filling in just those lines and sections that are appropriate — not all sections and lines are needed, nor even desirable. Provisional Patent application kits can be found for 50 to 100 dollars, and up.

Your valuable time will be freed up for more productive or creative use, once you have full patent or provisional patent protection. You will be searching for eager and able third parties that will help you push your dream toward reality. Once protected your move toward financial security will be accelerated. So don’t ignore the necessity of doing what it takes to get protected, them move confidently and safely forward!