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Contents
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| Acknowledgments |
ix |
| Introduction |
xi |
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| Step 1: The Ins and Outs of Patents |
1 |
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| Evaluating Your Idea: Marketability vs Patentability |
1 |
| Types of Patents |
3 |
| Evaluating Your Idea for Patentability |
4 |
| Doing a Patent Search |
8 |
| The Invention Disclosure Document-save Your Spot! |
12 |
| Keeping a Journal |
19 |
| Filing Your Patent Application |
19 |
| The Provisional Patent Application |
23 |
| Reaping the Rewards of Protecting Your Idea |
26 |
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| Step 2: Choosing the Most Profitable Path |
29 |
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| Route 1: Use a Brokerage Firm |
29 |
| Route 2: The Broker Finds You a Manufacturer and Distributor, |
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| but You Negotiate Your Own Agreements |
32 |
| Route 3: Find a Manufacturer and Distributor, and You Negotiate |
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| Your Own Agreements |
33 |
| Route 4: Have the Product Made for You and Find a Company to Distribute It |
34 |
| Route 5: Use an Agent to Sell/Distribute Your Invention |
37 |
| Route 6: Have the Product Made for You, and You Distribute It |
38 |
| Route 7: Manufacture Your Own Product but Another Company Distributes It |
39 |
| Route 8: Manufacture and Distribute Your Product |
40 |
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| Step 3: The Patent Marketing Plan |
41 |
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| Developing a Successful Patent Marketing Plan |
41 |
| Doing the Research for Your Patent Marketing Plan |
51 |
| Business Research Guide |
52 |
| Sample Patent Marketing Plan |
62 |
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| Step 4: Building a Prototype |
75 |
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| Bui1ding Your Prototype: General Guidelines |
77 |
| Choosing the Right Material for Your Prototype |
78 |
| Choosing the Right Manufacturing Process for Your Prototype |
91 |
| Finding Prototyping Houses: Getting It Built for You |
102 |
| Bui1ding Your Invention Yourself |
104 |
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| Step 5: Test Marketing and Customer Feedback |
107 |
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| The Advantages of Test Marketing |
107 |
| The Best Test-Marketing Method for You |
108 |
| Customer Feedback |
110 |
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| Step 6: Approaching Companies |
113 |
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| The Initial Approach |
113 |
| Trade Shows |
114 |
| Telephone Conversations |
116 |
| Company Presentations |
117 |
| Dealing with Rejection |
119 |
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| Step 7: Negotiating Agreements |
121 |
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| Negotiating Ski1ls |
121 |
| Ten Key Negotiation Principles |
123 |
| Nine Winning Tactics |
126 |
| Using Power Words |
133 |
| The Opponent's Advantage |
135 |
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| Step 8: Agreements Contracts and Licensing |
137 |
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| Types of Agreements |
137 |
| Assignment |
137 |
| Licensing |
141 |
| Drafting Licensing Agreements |
144 |
| Joint Owners’ Agreement (JOA) |
164 |
| Royalties |
168 |
| Choosing Between Selling or Licensing Your Invention |
172 |
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| Step 9: Improving the Strength of Your Patent |
175 |
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| Method 1: Try to Work Around Your Own Invention |
176 |
| Method 2: File for a Re-Issue Application |
177 |
| Method 3: Include Trade Secrets in Your Patent |
177 |
| Method 4: Don't Include "Patent Number" Marking on Your |
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| Invention |
178 |
| Method 5: Protest a Patent Application |
179 |
| What to Do If Someone Worked Around Your Patent |
180 |
| What to Do If Someone Copied Without a Patent |
180 |
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| Step 10: Product Differentiation |
183 |
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| Expand Your Horizons and Protect Your Interests |
183 |
| Spin-offs |
183 |
| Modifications |
185 |
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| Appendix A: Inventor's Assistance Organizations |
187 |
| Appendix B: Sources of Capital/ Aid for Inventors and Small |
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| Businesses |
237 |
| Appendix C: PTO Fees |
245 |
| Index |
253 |
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