Protect Your Million-Dollar Idea for Only $1.49
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In the United States, the policy “first to invent”, rather than “first to file”, is employed in awarding patents to inventors. This poses a dilemma to you in competing in the IP marketplace: How can you prove that you were the first to conceive of an idea?
The key element in protecting your ideas requires an outlay of approximately $1.49 at your local stationery store. You must create a logbook, documenting the conception and evolution of your idea. This first step is actually very simple, and very inexpensive. But it cannot be forgotten. Your documentation will be invaluable to you later!
Your logbook must possess specific qualities to ensure its validity. I recommend using a common black and white composition book. The notebook need not be expensive, but its pages should not be able to be removed easily. They should have to be ripped out, which will demonstrate that you didn’t skip pages or insert extras.
Write in ink. Do not skip lines, or pages. Date every entry, and have a witness read you have written and sign their name, indicating they understand the information that has been established.
Write in your logbook frequently! The better notes you have taken, the greater the strength of your ownership of the idea. Write additional entries as you modify the idea, perform tests, or gather data – anything and everything.
If this recordkeeping seems extravagant or unnecessary, don’t kid yourself. I’ve been in federal court, fighting to defend my invention of a new technology. The first thing I was asked to prove was when I invented the idea.
Every single inventor should maintain a logbook. I will be detailing further information about how to protect your ideas – but this is the first, and foremost.
To learn more about the patent process, listen to a tele-class in which attorney Michael Neustel discusses the power of patents.
In addition, make sure to read these articles:
Latest Comments
Stephen, I started my note book a few months ago but used a spiral notebook (pages could be removed but not easily inserted). Now that I understand the rules that you pointed out, do I need to re-write my notes in a Composition Notebook that you describe? Thanks.
Comment By: George B. | 2/29/08 at 8:08 PM Protect Your Million-Dollar Idea for Only $1.49I've read that you need to write your new thoughts down as they come, and in the order they come.
You don't want to leave any spaces between entries. Any new entries will reference back to old ones. This is not legal advice. I am not an attorney.
I suggest you check out "The Inventors Notebook" from your local library or buy it from Amazon.com. Here's the Amazon link. It'll answer absolutely all your questions about keeping an inventors notebook.
http://www.amazon.com/Inventors-Notebook-Patent-Yourself-Companion/dp/1413302181/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1204663833&sr=8-1
I wouldn't think it would take you more than an hour to be an expert on the topic. It's fairly simple to keep an inventors notebook.
RE: Your quesiton about re-writing your notes. Please consult an attorney or the book i mentioned above.
Keep Inventing,
Stephen Key
http://www.inventRight.com
...
Mr. Key: How many inventions would you recommend per book? And what if I'm only getting the book now? Most of my ideas are from several years ago. Thank you again for your appearance at the EverydayEdison.com event in San Jose. Your speech helped me to realize that an "idea man" is really a Product Development Consultant. Hopefully, I can contact the right people and get my ideas out there!
Comment By: Mike Carrieri | 3/20/08 at 2:54 PM Protect Your Million-Dollar Idea for Only $1.49Hello Mike, My replys are in all caps here after your questions. How many inventions would you recommend per book? YOU KEEP WRITING UNTIL THE BOOK IS FULL AND THEN START A NEW BOOK And what if I'm only getting the book now? YOU CAN'T GO BACK IN TIME, JUST GET STARTED AND DOCUMENT YOUR IDEAS. Most of my ideas are from several years ago. Thank you again for your appearance at the EverydayEdison.com event in San Jose. Your speech helped me to realize that an "idea man" is really a Product Development Consultant. Hopefully, I can contact the right people and get my ideas out there! YOU CAN DO IT! GET SOME GOOD INFORMATION FROM PEOPLE WHO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT AND TAKE ACTION. Kindest Regards, Stephen Key http://www.inventRight.com ...
Comment By: Stephen Key | 3/25/08 at 10:51 AM Protect Your Million-Dollar Idea for Only $1.49Related Resources
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