How To Protect Your Invention
We spoke to Leslie Scott, who invented the game " Jenga".
She got herself up to speed on how to go about protecting her invention when she first came up with the idea.
After many false starts she finally got a manufacturer on board.
The game has been a huge success.
She just wrote a book about how it all played out.
"The game has sold something in the region of 50 million copies," said Leslie Scott. " I'm absolutely delighted."
How do you protect yourself when you've got a great idea. You don't want anyone to steal it.
If you've developed something you think is very marketable there's a lot to keep in mind. You want to make money from the invention. Usually that means licensing the rights to it to another business, say a manufacturer or distributor. When you pitch these folks, you run the risk of giving them so much information your idea could get stolen.
So how do you shop your invention around without risking your rights?
First things first.
The first step in the patent process is Invention Protection.
Whenever you come up with a new idea or invention, you want to get a "date" attached to it immediately. So write out the general concept of your invention. Take the paper to a Notary Public. They will have you sign and date it, then they will sign it.
Once it's notarized keep the original document in a safe place will your notes and any drawings you may have. It's a good idea to start a diary on your venture.
Start by filing a PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION (if your invention is patentable). This costs only about $10. And gives your invention "patent-pending" status. This goes a long way in preventing rip-offs.
This gives you a one-year period to develop the invention, determine its marketability and seek licensing agreements.
Next most likely a patent searcher will do a search to figure out if anyone else has already claimed the same idea.
If your invention is not patentable you can use a nondisclosure agreement.
Before you sit down with a prospective licensee, you have them sign a non-disclosure agreement or a confidentiality agreement before you tell them anything. If they then turn around and use your secrets without your authorization, you can sue for damages.
Nondisclosure agreements contain important elements including a definition of what is and what isn't confidential information, obligations of the receiving party and time periods in place for nondisclosure.
For " Jenga"'s creator, Leslie Scott, " It remains thrilling. I put the game on the market 27 years ago and I still get the most amazing kick going into a toy store and seeing someone buy the game."
For more information, log onto:
www.thelivingweb.net/Invention
www.frompatenttoprofit.com/getting
