Hey folks! I know there have been a million posts already on the subject of patents. I have been trawling through all of the threads and seem to be no further forward with this. I will try to keep it as simple as possible, as I know it is already a very complex subject.
Probably like half the world of online entrepreneurs, I have a variation design concept to an existing idea. The product is well known and widely used. The aspect I am attempting to protect is the new design of this existing product and the way it is put together, offering new features and capabilities. I know the patent process is lengthy and very expensive, I know the patent attorney's also cost a great deal of money. My question, therefore, is this, how do you create prototypes from manufacturers without them stealing your ideas? Like many, I feel the variation in design offers something innovative and worthwhile, and of course, will sell millions
. However, this may not be the case in the minds of others. So spending fortunes on patents, waiting potentially years for them to be processed, to then find the idea flops, is hardly a worthwhile process. Surely there is a way to protect the initial design concept and variations without completing a full patent? Any info or help would be greatly appreciated. I've spent hours, days even, researching this subject online and seem to be no further forward.
I've ordered an inventor/innovation starter pack that I'm hoping will guide me through some of the process, as well as 2 books, the inventor's bible by Ronald Louis Docie Sr, and one simple idea by stephen key. But from the outset, these books seem to be aimed more at making money from patents and how to accomplish this as opposed to protecting initial design concepts.
A further question I have is, what is the best approach to bringing the design to market? I have obtained technical drawings based on my initial sketches. My plan was to approach suppliers through Alibaba and ask a few to attempt to build a prototype from scratch(asking for trouble in terms of stealing the design)? Is there a better way? Forgive my ignorance. I am fairly new to this process. Up until now I only had a couple of poor attempts at selling mediocre products on Amazon which didn't feel right. That was until I read MJ's Unscripted masterpiece which completely changed my trajectory and what I wanted to achieve, and more importantly, why!
Thanks in advance for your time folks, and apologies for bringing up an already well-discussed topic.
Probably like half the world of online entrepreneurs, I have a variation design concept to an existing idea. The product is well known and widely used. The aspect I am attempting to protect is the new design of this existing product and the way it is put together, offering new features and capabilities. I know the patent process is lengthy and very expensive, I know the patent attorney's also cost a great deal of money. My question, therefore, is this, how do you create prototypes from manufacturers without them stealing your ideas? Like many, I feel the variation in design offers something innovative and worthwhile, and of course, will sell millions
. However, this may not be the case in the minds of others. So spending fortunes on patents, waiting potentially years for them to be processed, to then find the idea flops, is hardly a worthwhile process. Surely there is a way to protect the initial design concept and variations without completing a full patent? Any info or help would be greatly appreciated. I've spent hours, days even, researching this subject online and seem to be no further forward.I've ordered an inventor/innovation starter pack that I'm hoping will guide me through some of the process, as well as 2 books, the inventor's bible by Ronald Louis Docie Sr, and one simple idea by stephen key. But from the outset, these books seem to be aimed more at making money from patents and how to accomplish this as opposed to protecting initial design concepts.
A further question I have is, what is the best approach to bringing the design to market? I have obtained technical drawings based on my initial sketches. My plan was to approach suppliers through Alibaba and ask a few to attempt to build a prototype from scratch(asking for trouble in terms of stealing the design)? Is there a better way? Forgive my ignorance. I am fairly new to this process. Up until now I only had a couple of poor attempts at selling mediocre products on Amazon which didn't feel right. That was until I read MJ's Unscripted masterpiece which completely changed my trajectory and what I wanted to achieve, and more importantly, why!
Thanks in advance for your time folks, and apologies for bringing up an already well-discussed topic.
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