The first four points were published in a previous article How To Be A Successful Inventor – Part 1. Read it if you have not already done so.
- Do a patent search
- Build a prototype
- Nobody should steal your idea!
- Prepare for marketing your idea
So, you have done the market research, and the idea sounds promising. Before you go ahead and spent hundreds of hours on building a prototype, spend some time to do a thorough patent search. You do not want to build something expending months of effort, only to find out at the end that someone had already filed a similar patent. You can do a patent search at USPTO Patent Search .
Remember one thing – ideas cannot be patented, usually. You need something concrete to file a patent. So, build something. It need not be the full blown final invention, but it should show how the invention can be implemented. If it is a toy, make sure to sketch how it will look, and if possible, build a crude model.
If you are sure nobody has filed for a patent or published anything similar, it is time for you to act fast. File for a patent immediately. If you cannot afford a full patent, there are many ways to protect yourself. Watch this space – we will be publishing some of the ways to do so soon. But, if you can afford to get a patent, file the patent application immediately.
Now that you have filed for a patent, it is time to start marketing your idea. This is where most inventors make huge mistakes. For them, once they have built the prototype and have filed for the patent, the job is over.
Huge mistake. Your invention is not worth anything, until someone shows an interest in it. So, if you are not good at marketing, hire or partner with someone who is good at marketing. Otherwise, prepare a list of potential buyers who may be interested in your invention. Prepare marketing material for your invention.
(Note: this is the second part of a series of articles for aspiring inventors. The third part will be published very soon.)