Legal Question in Intellectual Property in Illinois

Inventing and Patenting

I have a couple of inventions I would like to get placed on the market. I do not have a patent or anything of that sort (just a invention idea). I do not have the money to pay attorneys. Is there a way I can get my invention on the market and manufactured? What are other ways I can get my inventions on the market with limited amount of money and limited amount of help? I just don't know what to do.


Asked on 9/04/05, 10:08 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Donald R. Simon The EIP group

Re: Inventing and Patenting

Are you trying to get investors? Without a patent, you may face some serious obstacles along the way. See if you can find an investor to help cover the patent cost. I can recommend a patent attorney in Virginia if you would like.

There are still many ways to get your invention on the market. Depending on what your device is, start contacting manufacturing/engineering firms to see if they can duplicate your invention and provide enough inventory to market it.

Having a patent helps get investors and helps the marketablility of the device. And, of course, it prevents others from duplicating the device and competing against you--which could potentially be the very same manufacturing firm you've hired to duplicate the device! Remember that if you device is on sale for a certain length of time, you are barred from going back later and getting a patent.

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Answered on 9/04/05, 10:49 am


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