How to bring new products/inventions to market? (sell, work, value)

[Exporter]

Hello all,

Does anyone here have info./experience with bringing new products/inventions to market? Any inventors here kind enough to share their experiences/stories.

Would love to have a product make it to an infomercial someday.
Thanks...

[user_id]

Having a product on an infomercial is simple....but why someone would strive for that is beyond me..

[sterlinggirl]

Your first step before spending a dime should be a patent search to see if someone else has locked up the idea. Once you're happy that you've got an original idea, write down all the details and draw pictures, and have a notary witness you signing it.

After that, you'll need to find somebody you can work with to make prototypes. Once you're happy with the prototypes, you'll need to find somebody who can make your product so you can get quotes to make sure it will be worth your while to sell it.

At this point, you're ready to take your idea to infomercial producers or whatever other distribution channel you choose.

If you want to patent your idea, you have to do it within a year of the first time you sell one.

[lumbollo]

Originally Posted by sterlinggirl

...
If you want to patent your idea, you have to do it within a year of the first time you sell one.

Having been through this due to owning 2 patents, specifically you have to:

File the patent application 1 year from disclosure. You don't actually have to build anything but it you publish the idea, and the notary step above would be a disclosure, then you have one year to place an application for the patent. It could be years before they actually grant it, if at all, but you are then at least covered if someone else shows up and tries to patent your idea. Theoretically, the disclosure should be enough to protect you in case you get hit with a patent infringement later as you can claim prior art, but this puts the burden of proof on you instead of the other party in the eyes of the court.

It's a pretty expensive process and not worth it unless your idea is really unique and has a lot of commercial value. In that case it might be easier to sign the rights over to a manufacturer for compensation. Depending upon what this might be, you could get sufficient protection by producing a written document about it and then simply filing a copyright for it.

[lumbollo]

Originally Posted by user_id

Having a product on an infomercial is simple....but why someone would strive for that is beyond me..

It is not simple. Your strive comment is funny. Why don't you call up Ron Popeil and let him know why you disapprove of his accomplishments. I think you need to get out more.