I was reading the news about this kid who invented a toilet prop that automatically raises and lowers the toilet seat with a foot lever. In the article, they talked about whether or not they would patent the invention. That got me thinking about what you need to know as an inventor to get a patent, licensing and such. And what I found was this great Web site!
This handbook is divided into 11 sections, with an extra section devoted to Resources. Here’s some of what you’ll learn here:
What is Intellectual Property? – Here you will learn the four classes of intellectual property. They are patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret. What’s the difference? Well, check out this section and you’ll find out!
What Can Be Patented? – There are three different patents that can be granted: Utility Patents, Design Patents and Plant Patents. Since a patent is a product of the legal system, there are some very specific guidelines for these three types of patents. Find out more here!
Is My Invention Worth Patenting? – How do you know if your invention is worth patenting? This section will tell you the questions you need to ask yourself before you start the patenting process and spend any money.
How Do I License My Invention? – Here you will learn how to license your inventions, as well as, how to watch out for scam artists who want to steal your ideas!
The other sections cover raising capital, making a business plan, conducting patent searches and even how to prove the idea is yours. So, if you’ve invented some useful, nifty little gadget or if you’re thinking about making something, you’ll find a lot of great information on how to go about the patenting process right here. Check it out!
http://web.mit.edu/invent/h-main.html
~ Amanda