Addresses at these locations;
MANCHESTER: 199 Bury New Road
Whitefield
Manchester, M45 6GE. (UK).
INVENTORS CHECKLIST
THE INVENTORS CHECKLIST
THE INVENTORS CHECKLIST
A CENTURY OF SUPPORT
FOR
A CENTURY OF IDEAS
Every year that passes by the world gets smaller in terms of communications and at the same time good ideas abound on a global scale. Academic studies have shown that less than 1% of the world population is creative and that creativity knows no country or racial boundaries.
Creativity is everywhere, in mankind, in nature and in the universe.
A 21st Century inventor has to be not only creative but also must have sound legal and financial knowledge and be an entrepreneur. Furthermore, an idea or invention must be 'unique', 'novel', and be an 'inventive step'. It is also essential to do searches on the Internet to establish worldwide if your idea or invention has not already been thought of. This frequently happens and it is also important to establish that your idea is not already obsolete. The rate of progress and change today is considerably faster than even a decade ago and in reality is now exponential.
ALWAYS check if you really do have a new idea by checking through international patent offices and thorough Internet searches.
To use a famous saying, "The Truth is Out There.”
THE 10 POINT CHECKLIST
1. IS YOUR IDEA UNIQUE?
2. RESEARCH & CHECK & NEVER ASSUME.
3. IS YOUR IDEA COMMERCIALLY VIABLE?
4. KEEP YOUR IDEA TO YOURSELF AND DISCUSS WITH NOBODY OTHER THAN A PATENT ATTORNEY
OR THE INSTITUTE OF PATENTEES & INVENTORS ONCE A CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT HAS
BEEN SIGNED
5. DO NOT APPROACH, DISCUSS WITH, OR ENGAGE WITH ANY COMMERCIAL ORGANISATION BEFORE TAKING IMPARTIAL ADVICE.
6. CONSIDER COSTS INVOLVED.
7. HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO COMMERCIALISE YOUR IDEA?
8. A BUSINESS PLAN IS ESSENTIAL.
9. PRESENTATION & MARKETING IS ESSENTIAL.
10. FOR IMPARTIAL SUPPORT, ADVICE AND HOW TO PROTECT YOUR INTERESTS JOIN THE INSTITUTE OF PATENTEES & INVENTORS.
Finally, and most importantly, ensure that you have the correct protection for your idea. Patents are easy to file but expensive to maintain. Once a Patent application is filed in Britain then a number is issued, a priority date set and it is then Patent Pending. There is a period when changes can be made to the application and the claims in the application. The application is then ‘examined’ by an examiner at the Patent Office who will undertake a thorough international search to establish if the application is ‘novel’ and above all is an ‘inventive step’. An idea cannot be ‘prior art’ or ‘state of the art’ in that something already exists or is new and exists but has not been disclosed because a patent may already be pending with an earlier priority date. If the application does not infringe any other registered intellectual property then the Patent will be granted, published, and available in the public domain.
There is the option to protect intellectual property internationally and this is done by applying for a PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty). This can be expensive and details can be obtained from WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organisation) – www.wipo.int/pct/en/appguide. Before going down this route advice from a Patent Attorney is recommended.
A Patent is not always the best option because a Registered Design is a far less costly option and can in some cases give better protection for an easily reproducible concept that with a slight modification can be bypassed.
Correct guidance and advice from the outset is essential.
WE ARE HERE TO HELP AND NOT TO EXPLOIT
WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR ALMOST 100 YEARS