Have you sold a patent to Intellectual Ventures?  How was the experience?
341939
Intellectual Ventures acquires "high tech" patents from inventors, companies, and institutions.  They are not invention promoters, and pay the patent owner, not vice versa.  No infomercials!  My dormant dot-com company successfully sold patents to them, in a straightforward deal, for cash.\n\nIV is apparently putting together a large portfolio, based on communications, computer and electronics patents, but also patents in other fields.  Their business model focuses on licensing their patents to (not litigating against) large companies, but remains flexible enough to launch start-ups, join patent pools, etc.\n\nTheir strengths are their vision, very bright people, long-term, well funded business plan, and contact networks.  They are scary--not to inventors, but to recalcitrant companies that infringe patents, since IV is substantial enough to take them all on at once, if necessary.\n\nFrom an inventor standpoint, an interaction with them is all upside.  You offer your patents (or pending applications) and quickly you get an offer.  You can walk, or accept it.  No games, and an honest and open process.  In any case, that organization alone is responsible for bringing liquidity to the market for patents, and is, in my opinion, the best at what it does.\n\nPS Don't bother going to IV with an improved spaghetti strainer--they focus on high tech IP used (or which might be used) in products, not "as-seen-on-TV" gadgets.
759587
Unfortunately, ideas cannot be protected through any form of intellectual property, so ideas alone are not likely to result in you being able to turn them into cash.  Many people will have great ideas, but will not be able to put that idea into a package appropriate for a patent because there is no invention, only a concept. To be sure, the idea is the all critical first step in the invention process. After you come up with the idea or concept you now need to put together a game plan on how to carry that idea through. The idea and game plan together form what the law calls conception. Conception is an important concept in patent law because in the United States it is the first person to invent that will ultimately receive the exclusive rights on an invention. That being said, it is critical that once you conceive (idea + game plan) you will need to be diligent and not let any grass grow under your feet as you move forward toward defining and experimenting with your invention.\n\nIf you can define your idea in concrete terms you may well have more than an idea, you may indeed have an invention.  If you do have an invention and you are interested in trying to capitalize on the invention you should consider filing some kind of patent application.  Once you have a patent application on file you have locked in your rights with respect to the invention, provided you do not abandon the invention.  Once an application is filed you have an asset that others might be interested in acquiring or licensing, depending upon the invention of course.  \n\nMany people will also start with a patent search to determine if the invention is truly new and worth the investment of time and money.  You can either hire someone to do the search for you, or you can search yourself.  Even if you are going to try and hire someone doing a preliminary search yourself online is a wise move.  If you can find something yourself there is no need to incur the expense of a professional search.\n\nWhatever you do, stay away from invention submission companies.  I have never seen an invention submission company that has satisfied customers.
668519
The patent is probablely out of this question.  I know that Price Line and others have gone that route, but it is expensive and a tough row to hoe. Furthermore, the US Patent Office does not play games; they just send back your application and they keep the money.\n\nIf you go this route, you will need a patent attorney.  There are not too many of them around - and they don't work cheap.\n\nCopyright is easy, and free.  Now if you wish to file with your states Attorney General of Sec. of State that will cost a couple of bucks (usually $25 - 50)\n\nGood luck -- DAVE
1126757
I have not but I know enough about it to answer your questions :)\n\nTo protect an original invention OR a significant improvement to an existing product, a patent would be filed. Here's the USPTO's definition: http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/doc/general/index.html#patent \n\nNOLO is a great, free informational site. Also, be sure to read what the USPTO (United States Patent & Trademark Office) has to say about patents.\n\nResearch, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can. Here are some book titles that are relevant:\n\n* Patent It Yourself (11th Edition) by David Pressman\n* Patents and How to Get One : A Practical Handbook by U.S. Department of Commerce\n* How To Make Patent Drawings Yourself: A Patent It Yourself Companion by Jack Lo\n* The Inventor's Notebook: A Patent It Yourself Companion by Fred E. Grissom\n\nThere are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.\n\nHope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!
1023669
Oh yes!!! Money,trips,cars,i have seen it all. I won $100 a month ago and used it to pay for my first patent application on an invention.In my last showcase,a guy won $10,000,a lady won a car,guy-shopping spree etc. i personally called two my friends when i heard their names on a radio station and they won $1,000/1,vacation/1. It has been great. Peace.
678965
usually u cant patent ideas unless u have the product.\nBut my friend was in the same situation as you and his idea got stolen by the person from th venture capitalist. They actually marketed his idea!
103441
Well, it doesn't cost a million dollars, but a patent search is the only surefire way. That'll hit you back anywhere from twenty five to fifty grand.\n\nYou can forego all that if you're prepared to set some of your  profits aside in an IP fund - so that if you get sued by a patent holder, some of your money is stored away to give them. If you genuinely did not know about their patent, they can't shut you down (as NTP is trying to do with RIM), but you will be liable for the appropriate amount of revenue associated with the patent.
347705
I'm not sure about quest international personally... but before joining any opportunity you should ask yourself about the opportunity.\n\nIs there an actual product? (or are you just pushing the membership and training information)\n\nIf yes, can the product stand on it's own? (If the business opportunity weren't attached, would you still purchase the product(s)?)\n\nAre they competatively priced? (Is the product worth the cost? Often times mlm's offer products that are more expensive because of the compensation plan connected to the business)\n\nIs there a need for the product? (Will people purchase it one time or repetitively... what is the potential for sales?)\n\nWhat type of training or support is available? (Are you gonna have to "figure it out" on your own? Many times once you've enrolled your upline is on to the next prospect...Will they be there to help you reach your goals?)\n\nDoes the company actually manufacture the products or are they reselling some other companies products? (Are they lisenced to do so?)\n\nWhat type of information is available to you to promote this product?  (Is the information credible?)\n\nDo the products stand up to the claims? (Patented, approved, tested?)\n\nWhat happens if you decide "this is not for you"? (will you be stuck with a garage full of product, or can you return them?)\n\nWhat about the cost of getting started? (Will the company refund your money if you can't do what is required to make money?)\n\nHave other people actually made money with the opportunity? (Are you able to speak with others who are working the business?  Are they credible?)\n\nPersonally I work with an Inc 500 Company with excellent credentials that can respond to all of these questions, POSITIVELY!.  If you would like more information on how I have been able to suppliment my income from home you can contact me through my Yahoo 360 page.  NO... this is NOT get rich quick scheme... it is a very reputable company that has shown increases in all of it's 20 years.  They offer documented information on their products AND their business builders.
683778
You need to speak to an intellectual property lawyer first.  I used to work for a great IP firm (you know, before the Internet, everyone knew that IP = Intellectual Property...now, IP = Internet Protocol, ie, "What's your IP address?")\n\nClick on this link and talk to the folks at RatnerPrestia.  They've done work for mom & pop inventors, and some of the largest companies around (including Microsoft, and Matsushita -- also known in America as "Panasonic").\n\nGood luck!  IP Lawyers are all engineer-types...they're not just lawyers...they know how to take your idea and first find out if it's already been patented, and secondly they know how to convince a patent examiner (the folks in Washington who decide if you get a patent or not) that your idea does, indeed, merit a patent.
766053
The best thing you can do is get the advice of a qualified patent professional.  If you can't afford to, then for only $100 you can file a complete description of the invention as a provisional application for patent with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (see the link below), explaining exactly how to make, perform, and practice it.  Then you have a year before you have to get a nonprovisional patent (which should only be prepared by a patent professional).  In the meantime you can call your invention "patent pending" and you can show your idea to companies who might want to buy it.\n\nIf they do want to buy it, aside from paying you for it they will probably be happy to prepare, file, and prosecute the nonprovisional patent application (which is very expensive to prepare in a way that will produce a valid and valuable patent) in return for your assigning the patent rights to them.
247489
Ive bin trying to sell thingd to google for quite some time. But they dont reply or i get an automated response\n\nGoogle is the best company ever. According to larry and sergy, "google shall do no evil". And they have an email id for business proposals bizdev@google.com but you will mostly get an automated response.\n\nIts just not possible to sell ideas to most companies through email\nsee http://www.apple.com/legal/policies/ideas.html\n\nThats how it is for most companies\n\nThe only thing you can do is go in person to a company's office and talk to them personally about your idea.
26833
Khristophoros,   Obtaining a patent may or may be possible in your case, seek the advice of a patent attorney if possible, they may give you a few minutes of their time free.  The biggest issue you may face is defending your patent once established.  \n\nWhy not simply build a protoype of your product, take it to a manufacturer and see if they would partner with you in launching your company?  You gotta start somewhere, your garage is good a place as any to launch from.  Afterall that's how Apple started. ;-)\n\nGood luck.
254903
It sounds like you created a new product and you're getting ready to put it on the market. That's great! Here are some steps to consider assuming you have completed the patent process:\n\n1. Create initial prototype in order to check if it works\n2. Prepare a non disclosure form to protect your invention before it hits the market when you show it to prospective investors or dealers or marketing partners\n3. Analyze costs to produce\n4. Evaluate the benefits and features of your product as this will shape your marketing strategy\n5. Get a professional prototype that you will show to prospective retail buyers\n6. Apply for provisional patent\n7. If you want to license the product to a manufacturer, find a licensing agent in your industry (Typically, an inventor can expect to receive royalties of between 3 to 7 percent of net sales)\n8. If you decide to manufacture and market the product yourself, you stand to profit more but will require greater capital
52076
You need a good patent attorney, period.  You must understand that 95% never get off the ground. It is not just about your idea- it is about your marketing, sales and distrubution- these things take capital.  Look at the club- if I told you 20 years ago, I had a piece of metal that you slap on your steering wheel you would say to get lost but it was marketed like mad and it made millions.  You can patent something and years later have a company contact you to buy the rights- my friend of my friend put a light in a tackle box and 2 years later settled for 3 million from a company that had the same idea- he owned the rights!  Innoventions are a good way to go also...think BASF- make something good, better.
1158850
Even if your idea has already been invented, your idea may still have value if it has a unique twist to it.  The whole product may not be able to be patented by you but any novel part of it may.\n\nDo a prior art search using the on line patent search service and compare what may be already patented with what you have.  Then determine if any refinement you may have is worth the effort of further patent protection.\n\nGood luck.
1000202
NOLO is a great, free informational site. Also, be sure to read what the USPTO (United States Patent & Trademark Office) has to say about patents.\n\nResearch, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can. Here are some book titles that are relevant:\n\n* From Patent To Profit: Secrets & Strategies For The Successful Inventor, Third Edition by Bob Dematteis\n* How to License Your Million Dollar Idea: Everything You Need To Know To Turn a Simple Idea into a Million Dollar Payday, 2nd Edition by Harvey Reese\n* The Inventor's Bible: How to Market and License Your Brilliant Ideas by Ronald Louis Docie \n* The Complete Idiot's Guide(R) to Cashing in On Your Inventions by Richard Levy\n\nThere are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.\n\nHope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!
69906
Absolutely! Once you have the patent and/or copyright, it can easily be sold. You can also allow someone to use something while maintaing the rights. Say you wrote a poem and it was in 2 different books by 2 different publishers, you can do that and collect royalties.\n\nYour best bet, however, once you have a patent that you are selling is to seek legal help if you're actually selling it for any measurable amount of money. The grand spent on a lawyer is nothing compared to the hundreds of thousands you could lose if you don't protect yourself.