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Protect your Inventions
Successful development of an invention requires careful business planning as well as safeguards to protect your product. Consider the following steps from idea to market:
- A great product! It all starts with your idea.
- Write it down. Use an inventor's notebook to verify that the idea is yours in case of future questions or conflicts.
- Patent search. Start by looking for any product that is similar to yours--begin with catalogs, then review popular and trade magazines, then industry indexes. Next search databases using the patent classification system. Finally, hand your search over to a professional patent searcher.
- Preliminary market research. Collect consumer data and reaction to your product. Talk to people in the industry without telling them your actual idea.
- Build a model or prototype.
- Create a business plan.
- Submit your idea to potential buyers to get orders.
- Apply for a patent. The cost of having a patent filed can be quite high. A self-drafted patent is possible, but will probably not be as strong.
- Find funding. There are many appoaches to financing your enterprise.
- Manufacture.
- Distribute to consumers. Products don't sell themselves. You need a plan for marketing and distribution.
There are many resources on the internet that provide information, support, professionals, and/or the opportunity to interact with other inventors.
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