One of the most difficult challenges faced by independent inventors and entrepreneurs is finding companies that want to license or buy the rights to their inventions or new product ideas.

Well, our Ultimate Inventor Resources includes a section Companies That Accept Product Submissions From Independent Inventors that lists such companies. Note that these are NOT invention marketing companies. Rather, they are real manufacturers with their own product lines that want to add new products and have indicated that they are willing to talk with inventors about adding their products.

But first, be sure to protect your invention by filing a provisional patent application so you have “patent pending” (i.e. a serial number and a filing date for your invention at the patent office). You can file a provisional patent application using our patent preparation service or using our Provisional Patent Application Filing Kit.

Additionally, you can use a Non-Disclosure/Non-Compete (ND/NC) Agreement (see your patent attorney or do a search online for a free one) if the particular company will sign one. This gives you immediate contractual protection if the company discloses or manufactures your invention or new product idea. Therefore, you do not need to wait until a patent would issue on your invention (a several year process and your idea might not be patentable) to stop the company from ripping off your invention or new product idea.

However, most larger companies have their own disclosure agreements and will not allow you to submit your invention or new product idea unless you sign it. These disclosure agreements usually state that your product disclosure to them is NOT confidential and that your only protection (if any) is that provided through the U.S. Patent Office (hence your previous filing of the provisional patent application).

The main reason that larger companies have such disclosure agreements is they are developing their own products in-house and do not want you to later claim that you disclosed a product to them that they were already developing on their own.

Note that while you can use a ND/NC agreement alone as contractual protection against having your invention stolen by a company, you do not have “patent pending” and thus this approach is more risky. Furthermore, if you do not have “patent pending” nor a signed ND/NC agreement before submitting your invention or new product idea, then you are setting yourself up to have it ripped off. Note that this is a general statement of advice and in no way is meant to reflect upon any partuicular company or individual.

Also be sure to do your homework first on any company you are thinking of approaching. Look at their product line(s) to be sure that your invention or new product idea is a good fit. What are their product submission requirements? Will they sign a ND/NC agreement?

Again, here is the link to our Ultimate Inventor Resources:
http://www.inventionpatenting.com/ultimate-inventor-resources.html

and to our “Companies That Accept Product Submissions From Independent Inventors”:
http://www.inventionpatenting.com/companies-that-accept-new-products.html

Best regards,

Brian R. Rayve
Owner, InventionPatenting.com

P.S. Be sure to ask your patent attorney or read our other posts about the ramifications of a “public disclosure” by not using a ND/NC agreement when disclosing your invention or new product idea to companies or other persons (even if you have “patent pending”).

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I have talked to many inventors looking to inexpensively advertise their inventions for sale, license, or investment online.  Setting up and maintaining a website is quite an ordeal… believe me… I know first-hand!

Well, I have set up a brand new way for inventors such as yourself to do so.  You get your own web page for your invention along with a hits counter to track how many people have viewed your invention.  Prospective buyers, licensees, and investors can contact you directly by email to discuss your invention.  Upload any YouTube video of your invention if you like.

Your invention will appear on the major search engines and on an RSS feed that potential buyers, licensees, and investors can subscribe to.  You can purchase additional monthly visitor traffic to your personal invention web page after signing up.

To view the currently listed inventions visit:   http://www.inventionpatenting.com/inventions.html

List your invention today.  Here is what to do:

Non-Members:

Step 1. Join InventionPatenting.com for FREE to gain access to our Invention Listing Service, our Ultimate Inventor Resources, our FREE Independent Inventor’s Kit, and other member perks at:  http://www.inventionpatenting.com/your-details/create-an-account.html

Step 2: Login to your account on the “Login Form” at the left side of the web page.

Step 3: Review the advertising packages on our member home page.

Step 4. Add your invention for sale, license, or investment by clicking on the “Add Invention” link at the top of the web page.

Step 5:  Purchase the Basic or Pro Advertising Package (through PayPal) if you want to send additional monthly visitor traffic to your own personal invention web page.

Step 6: Your invention will be reviewed for content then posted on your invention web page.  You will be emailed with the URL of your invention web page when posted or if we have questions regarding your proposed posting.

Members:

Step 1: Login to your account at:  http://www.inventionpatenting.com

Step 2: Follow Steps 3-6 above.

Note: This is a brand new service to inventors and as such we will not be able to judge its effectiveness for several months.  The service will be adjusted as needed to increase its effectiveness in getting sales, licenses, and investors for inventors.

Best regards,

Brian R. Rayve

P.S. This service is only for patented or “patent pending” inventions as this service will “Publicly Disclose” your invention.

THAT MEANS THAT USING THIS SERVICE CAN RUIN YOUR ABILITY TO OBTAIN PATENT PROTECTION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND IN OTHER COUNTRIES IF USED PREMATURELY.

Be sure to discuss your particular invention, goals, and the like with your patent attorney or patent agent before signing up for this service.

P.P.S. Here are two good blog posts to read prior to talking to your patent attorney:

Hoping Your Patent Application Gets Published Soon – Think Again!
http://www.inventionpatenting.com/ipblog2/hoping-your-patent-application-gets-published-soon-think-again/

What Is Your “Invention Game Plan”?
http://www.inventionpatenting.com/ipblog2/what-is-your-invention-game-plan/

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Do you have a website promoting your new product idea? It can be a great way to promote products. However, there are many pitfalls to doing so naively.

For example, I have been spending thousands of dollars on pay-per-click search engines over the last few years to promote my website. I have received many click-throughs but the costs have far outweighed any profits made from the clicks.

Recently I read that RELATIONSHIPS count, not CLICKS! I thought to myself duh! Why did I not properly follow-up with all of the people who clicked through and signed-up to download my free Independent Inventor’s Kit? It seems so simple now.

Well, that is why I am now blogging regularly and emailing those click-throughs to establish relationships with them! Most will probably never buy any products or services from me, but those that do will be worth it (financially speaking).

Regardless, I did not get into business solely to make money (though it helps to pay the bills), but to help people. I hope that those people who never become customers are helped by the free information they get from my website.

Well, I hope that you follow-up on the leads, including paid clicks, that you get… they are worth pursuing to build those relationships and some end up as friendships.

Remember to offer some incentive (that helps people) to capture contact information… typically at least first name and email… so you can follow up. Also keep in mind that people are flooded with emails these days. Most people throw out 9 out of 10 emails they receive… so make sure your emails offer VALUE to recipients (i.e. supply some knowledge or product worth spending their increasingly scarce time to open and looking at).

In future articles I will write more tips on alternatives to email follow-up. Stay tuned!

Talk to you again soon… remember to follow-up and build those relationships!

Tells you how to really make money on your website.

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