Inventions

[FastFrank]

This is going to be hard to write without giving out to much.. Ill say that in advance.

A good long time friend of mine, and I have been sitting on an idea for about 2 years. We have told very few people, because the people who (only extreme close family who we both feel was ok to tell) we have told immediatley want in.

The problem is this;

The two of us really have no clue where to begin on this. I imagine getting a patent should be #1 priority? Anyone have any links or books, or anything that could lead us on the right path? This is somethat that would likely have to be produced overseas. I feel this will go quite big and I have no idea where to start.

We fairly little financial backing (40-50k) to get the ball rolling here. I was thinking along the lines of getting the patent (not even sure how to do this to be honest!) and finding investors. Sound like this is the right track?

Sorry for the odd post. Ive gotten some good information on here and I know there are some people on here who have started their own companies.

 

[Big A]

Do this:
http://www.uspto.gov/

You can do it all online. It does take up to 2 years until it's finalised. I know it's hard, but you shouldn't do anything until the patent is finalised.

 

[terryd5150]

Poor man's copyright/patent.

Make DETAILED plans/blueprints/etc. of what you are inventing.

Put them all in a secured package, one that could not be opened and resealed, take it to a notary public and have them sign and seal the package.

Take the package to the post office and mail to yourself.

The postmark on the sealed package will serve as proof of your invention's date of origination.

The notary's signature and the postmark are goverment-approved dates of verification that will stand up in court.

This will buy you some time while your patent is being applied for.

 

[notus]

I would look for an investor first. The bad thing about patents is that it doesnt do anything unless you have the money to enforce it. It's not like you have a patent and so nobody else can build it... because they will then its a matter of who can hold up in court the longest. You have to have money to back up your patent or it's no good. I only know this because a guy I train that owns 30 oil wells worth 30 million a piece is patenting something and he has some high priced patent lawyers.

 

[FastFrank]

Thank alot for the info everyone!

One thing I didn't mention is that I am from Canada (but have EU citizenship too if that makes things easier).

I am working on blueprints now, I have enough education in this field to make a pretty accurate plan.