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SCORE
Protect your invention idea by taking notes right away

Prove you were first. Prepare a one-page nondisclosure agreement

By Krishna Baranwal
Special to the Beacon Journal

Published on Monday, May 12, 2008

If you have an invention or idea, it is essential that you protect it or run the risk of losing your rights and any future rewards. Here is what you need to do:

First, start a diary/journal in a bound notebook. Include the date of the invention (when the idea was initially conceived) and a description. This is important in connection with filing for a patent in the future as the United States is a ''First-to-Invent'' country. Keep the journal updated as you develop prototypes, make modifications, etc.

Second, prepare a one-page nondisclosure agreement. If you want to tell anyone (relatives, friends, plant personnel, others), the receiver of the information should sign the agreement and keep the invention confidential. This way, you keep your idea protected and have a record of when and to whom the information was disclosed.

But how do you know whether the invention/idea is worth pursuing further and spending time and money in the process? The least expensive step is to run a patent search. This can be done by using Internet access to the United States Patent and
Trademark Office (USPTO) database at http://www.uspto.gov. Your objective is to find out whether your invention has already been patented.

The Science and Technology Division of the Akron-Summit County Public Library offers seminars on patent searching.

Call 330-643-9075 for information. The library does not do patent searches.

Another option is to get a patent search done, on a charge basis, by a professional patent attorney.

A market search also might be helpful in determining if such an invention — product or process — exists or has potential in the marketplace. If it does, the market search might provide information on the potential advantages of your invention over the existing one (better performance, lower costs, easier operation, etc.).

The final step in protecting your idea is to file a patent with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. A patent attorney can be helpful. For information, go to the USPTO Web site or call 800-786-9199.

Dr. Krishna C. Baranwal, an Akron SCORE counselor, is the former executive vice president of the Akron Rubber Development Lab. If you would like more information on this or other business-related subjects, contact Akron SCORE via the Internet at http://akronscore.org or by calling 330-379-3163. Services are free and confidential. SCORE is a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

If you have an invention or idea, it is essential that you protect it or run the risk of losing your rights and any future rewards. Here is what you need to do:

Get the full article here.



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