{"id":4923,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:49","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/10-tips-for-inventors.html"},"modified":"2024-05-22T02:12:26","modified_gmt":"2024-05-22T07:12:26","slug":"10-tips-for-inventors","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/10-tips-for-inventors.html","title":{"rendered":"10 Tips For Inventors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30  wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-section-main fl-page-articles fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\">\n        <h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">10 Tips For Inventors<\/h1>\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw Staff<\/a> | Legally reviewed by <a\n                href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/amber-sheppard-esq\/\">Amber Sheppard, Esq.<\/a>\n                | Last updated\n        <time>\n                            May 22, 2024\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n            <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-editorial-note fl-text-sm\">\n            <p>Editorial Note: We earn a commission from affiliate partner links on FindLaw. Commissions do not affect the editorial integrity of our legal content.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n<p>You don&#8217;t need to possess the genius of Alexander Miles or Madam C.J. Walker to consider yourself an inventor. Nowadays, anyone with a great concept and determination can create an outstanding product or a tool that saves lives.<\/p>\r\n<p>But some questions might arise, such as:<\/p>\r\n<p>&quot;What&#8217;s the next step once you&#8217;ve developed a top-notch invention?&quot;<\/p>\r\n<p>\u201cHow do I protect my business idea?&quot;<\/p>\r\n<p>\u201cWhat is&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property.html\">Intellectual Property<\/a>?&quot;<\/p>\r\n<p>&quot;Should I obtain a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/what-is-a-patent.html\">patent<\/a>?&quot;<\/p>\r\n<p>Don&#8217;t worry \u2014 FindLaw offers ten tips for small businesses, startups, inventors, and entrepreneurs to consider.<\/p>\r\n<h2>1. Create a Record of Invention<\/h2>\r\n<p>When brilliance strikes and you come up with a great product idea, create a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/document-your-invention-why-and-how.html\">record of invention<\/a>&nbsp;before taking further steps. This will help document your invention and prove that you were the first to come up with the idea.<\/p>\r\n<p>Make a tangible record of the invention that includes the following:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>A clear description of the idea<\/li>\r\n<li>The date<\/li>\r\n<li>Your signature<\/li>\r\n<li>Signatures of two people you trust who have &quot;witnessed and understood&quot; your invention and the dates they signed<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>2. Build a Prototype<\/h2>\r\n<p>Build a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/how-to-protect-your-invention.html\">prototype<\/a>&nbsp;as soon as possible to transform the idea into a physical object.<\/p>\r\n<h2>3. Keep It Quiet<\/h2>\r\n<p>Be discreet. Do not discuss your invention with people not bound by a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/a-nondisclosure-agreement.html\">non-disclosure agreement.<\/a><\/p>\r\n<h2>4. Record Everything<\/h2>\r\n<p>Make sure your business model has you keeping good, complete, and accurate written records of product development, including:<\/p>\r\n<p>A written lab book or log, kept up to date as you work on your invention<\/p>\r\n<p>Documentation of each day you did something and a description of your efforts in taking your invention from idea to reality (including test results, experiments, and changes to the product design). Note: Have two witnesses sign and date your record book stating that they have &quot;witnessed and understood&quot; the work you have done to build and test your invention<\/p>\r\n<p>Copies of all correspondence (including e-mails!) and receipts relating to your invention<\/p>\r\n<h2>5. Conduct Thorough Market Research<\/h2>\r\n<p>Don&#8217;t do too much work on your invention until you get a good idea of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/is-your-invention-patentable.html\">whether it will sell well<\/a>. Analyze your customer base and figure out your target market.<\/p>\r\n<p>A suggested rule of thumb to determine if your invention will sell well is that the total sales will be at least twenty times the cost of inventing and patenting it.<\/p>\r\n<p>Include in your cost calculation the cost of filing fees, and hiring a lawyer to help with your&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/filing-for-a-patent.html\">patent filing<\/a>&nbsp;as well as the person who prepares the drawings of your creation.<\/p>\r\n<h2>6. Determine Patent Eligibility<\/h2>\r\n<p>Assess whether you will be able to get patent protection for your invention. Answer the following questions:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Is your invention a new product?<\/li>\r\n<li>What is the prior art?<\/li>\r\n<li>If you are improving on something that already has a patent, is your invention a new physical feature, a combination of prior separate features, or a new use of a previous feature?<\/li>\r\n<li>If you are improving something already patented, is your invention not obvious?<\/li>\r\n<li>Does your invention produce a new and unexpected result?<\/li>\r\n<li>Does your invention fall into one of the five classes of items that may be patentable? Is it a process, machine, an &quot;article of manufacture,&quot; &quot;compositions of matter,&quot; or a new use of any of those items?<\/li>\r\n<li>Do you need a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/utility-patents-overview.htm\">utility patent<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/design-patents-overview.html\">design patent<\/a>, or&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/applying-for-plant-patents.html\">plant patent<\/a>?<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>7. Conduct a Patent Search<\/h2>\r\n<p>Do a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/online-patent-search-overview.html\">patent search<\/a>&nbsp;with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The USPTO provides a step-by-step patent process of<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uspto.gov\/video\/cbt\/prelim-patent-search\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">&nbsp;how to complete a patent search.&nbsp;<\/a>The USPTO provides information on what type of patent application you will need, either&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uspto.gov\/patents\/basics\/apply\/provisional-application\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a provisional patent application or a non-provisional application<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<h2>8. Stay Organized<\/h2>\r\n<p>Keep a file for your invention that contains items and information you and your lawyer will need while you prepare your patent application.<\/p>\r\n<h2>9. Create a Business Plan<\/h2>\r\n<p>Start exploring and thinking about how you will market your invention to make money. Include social media when&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/starting-a-business\/creating-a-business-plan.html\">creating your business plan<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<h2>10. Talk to an Attorney<\/h2>\r\n<p>Work with an experienced patent attorney licensed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Get Legal Advice From an Experienced Professional<\/h2>\r\n<p>As a first-time inventor, you would likely rather spend time perfecting your new invention idea. Leave the legal hassles to a skilled&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/business-commercial-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">business and commercial law attorney<\/a>&nbsp;specializing in patent law. A patent attorney in your area can help ensure you file the correct forms and work with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on your behalf.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            class=\"was-this-helpful__question-container\"\n            aria-labelledby=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n            role=\"group\"\n    >\n        <span\n                id=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__question fl-text-lg-bold\"\n        >Was this helpful?<\/span>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"Yes\"\n                value=\"yes\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">Yes<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <g id=\"thumbs-up\" 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