marketing a new product

[kingspade]

so, i thought of a great new invention (not really MJ related) and i really think it would take off, everyone i've talked to about it also thinks it's a great idea. i want to get the ball rolling on it...

i've seen those 1-800 numbers on TV about them helping you market a new idea, but i've also heard they take a HUGE percentage of any money you make on it...

...i've been over at uspto (United States Patent & Trademark Office) .gov and can't figure anything out there

a friend told me i would have to make a rough version of my idea, and show it at a tradeshow or something, but if it's not parented, what's stopping someone from ripping it off?

anyone got any ideas?

 

[Chitownstoner]

i really don't know, but i would get a lawyer that does cover this area and get it done through them.

 

[marx2k]

scout out a patent lawyer

 

[NOKUY]

just please tell us that it's NOT another version of the:

ab-blaster/thigh-master/ab-lounge/gut-buster/etc...

 

[marx2k]

Id like to see Suzanne "The Joker" Sommers use all of those at once while riding on a vibrating bull

 

[Haps]

There is a lot of good reading at the USPTO, you have to be in the mood to read and retain some bone dry shit, lots of it. I find watching cspan puts my mind in legal bs mode and then it reads easier. There are good books on this available that make worth while reading.
H

 

[Dan42nepa]

you need someone to do a patent search.. no idea what that costs.

 

[DickAnubis]

Well, Patents are very costly. A friend of mine spent $50,000 searching and then filing for a patent for a knife handle design he came up with and it took five years.
You can't do a patent search on your own (unless you're a lawyer with underlings).

Here's the good part. You may not be able to afford a patent and may not need one.

Many companies including Ron Popeel inventor of the Pocket Fisherman and spray on hair don't patent all their ideas first thing.
If your product is an item that could be easily copied by just changing an aspect or two a patent wouldn't protect you much.
Popeel didn't initially patent the Pocket Fisherman. He Trademarked the name. Cost $600 you file it yourself.
OK so the name Pocket Fisherman is now protected. So then he starts advertising on late night TV. Anyone can steal this idea. But by the time they get to market the POCKET FISHERMAN is established. So now what will the idea thieves call their new device. Who is going to buy the Collapsing Device for Catch Aquatic Creatures?
NOBODY. I want a POCKET FISHERMAN. Ron's millions were made.

Step two- if your product fails you lost the start up costs minus $50k you didn't spend patenting (and the time, it can take years to get a patent.)
If your product is a hit now what? Get a patent lawyer and begin the process. This allows you to place a "Patent Pending" on your product. This is pretty good protection.
Sometime a product never advances from this stage and the owner makes $$$$$$ without finishing the process.

If you really have something that is just so far ahead of everything else related to your idea and no one else is even close to creating such an item then take your time,do your research and beg everyone you know for the patent money with hopes that you'll pay them back in spades when the thing takes off.

There are tradeshows just for new products and ideas. They are worth going to. Use your judgement or take a trusted associate along. Don't be paranoid. Its like shopping for anything else when looking for someone to back your product. Just check them out.

OH one more thing then I'll shut up. If your product has any graphics or its design itself is artistic COPYRIGHT that. COST $45 file online. This establishes a history of creation and if someone lifts it and uses the look or images you sue their heinies off!

Good Luck with your project. Be wise and fearless.

PEACE
DA
O MANIPADME OM

 

[kingspade]

wow, thanks for all the great advise guys...

chitown & marx: contacting a lawyer isn't a bad idea, i've actually got a family friend that's a lawyer, he handles drug and dui charges, but he would be someone i could trust for advise (plus, he never charges my family)

nokuy: lol, nothing fitness related

haps: i've been trying to read through this stuff, just like you said, very dry, boring shit...

dick: sounds like you know what your talking about...i deff. don't got $50k laying around, a name patent is a great idea, i'll have to come up with a great name that describes the product perfectly...one of these tradeshows sounds like a route i might take, i'll have to research and find one around me, sounds like it could be fun too...

 

[Guest]

find something like this maybe free torrentonline somewhere
http://patentwizard.com/htmls/about.htm

 

[Haps]

You can submit a provisionary patent application, this only cost a hundred bucks, lets you proceed under "patent pending" status. This gives you one year to complete your patent application, which actually only cost 500 bucks to file. The provisionary, is real simple, any stoner could do it.

You can search yourself online free, at the uspto web site. The trick is to search all relevant categories, and there are millions of patents. A patent search through a lawyer referal costs 250-500. Most folks that actually get a patent, never make a dime from it, the critical assessment is - will people buy this?
H