You've done something amazing! You've invented something that no one else has ever thought of.
You have brought something new into the consciousness of the human race. Your desire is to profit from your intellectual efforts. There are a few problems, however.
You are in a state of continous optimism. You have unwavering faith in your invention. Invention submission companies will take advantage of your mental state to sell you on their services. Less than 1% of the inventors that pay these companies to market their inventions make more money than they have paid them.
The price of patent filing is expensive. A very simple non-provisional patent may only cost $10,000-$12,000. A more complicated one may cost $15,000-$20,000. Most inventors don't have that kind of pocket change.
The possibility of filing a patent by yourself is even a worse idea. It only takes a single mistake to have your patent declared invalid. Then your idea is free for the taking. You also have to have certain skills to write a patent. These skills include the capability to do write effectively, the talent to draw illustrations, the knowledge to draft effective claims and the punctuality to meet filing dates. The skills required are foreign to most inventors. It's a right brain vs. a left brain thing.
A Provisional Patent Application Is The Answer
With a provisional patent application, you can kill three birds with one stone.
1. You will protect your idea. The protection is limited to one year, but that will give you time to look for a buyer.
2. The expense will be relatively low. Provisional patents are less complicated. It can usually be drafted in one week. Because of this the cost can be much less than what would be required for a non-provisional patent.
3. You can market your idea without fear. This can be especially effective if there are more than one company that would be interested in your idea. They will likely not want your idea to fall into the hands of their competitors. A bidding war can be a very good thing for you!
Your personal sales efforts will likely be more far more effective than an invention submission company. Your enthusiasm for your project can be a powerful remedy for your lack of sales experience.
The downside is that you only have one year to file a full patent or your idea becomes public domain. But that gives you a fighting chance without betting the homestead. It is also a way to try many ideas to find your way to the rewards that you deserve.
Summary
To avoid the unreliability of invention submission companies and the expense of full non-provisional patents, use provisional patents to test your revolutionary idea in the market place.
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Dee Reavis is and industrial engineer, who has worked in a patent law office performing patent searches and patent drawings. .
Invention Submission Provisional Patent Application
