Inventor Warnings - Things to look out for!

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Inventor Warnings

"Things to lookout for!"

Below is a list of thing you should watch out for when dealing with invention related companies:

Beware of companies assessing your invention for a fee. These companies often make most of there money from giving their "Opinion". As you will see in the section on Marketing, no one really knows whether or not an invention will be a success. One of the only exceptions to this rule is mass market invention evaluators, who screen inventions for the large chain stores. Without their approval you can't enter these markets (see Mass Marketing). Still the best anyone can do is about 50% so be careful about who you pay to evaluate your invention. InventionMakers will give you our "opinion" on the marketability of your invention, but we won't charge you for it.
Beware of companies that do not stress doing a patent search before filing a patent or charge hundreds of dollars for a computer patent search. InventionMakers will do a patent search back to 1971 for only $99, or you can do your own on the Internet from the links in our Web Links section.
Beware of companies advertising low fixed-price patent costs. Most of these companies will obtain a Design Patent not a Utility Patent for you. Design Patents are simple to file and only cost a few hundred dollars. Make sure you are getting a Utility Patent. These companies are going after the uninformed, because a Design Patent has very little use for the inventor trying to protect their invention. InventionMakers only does Utility Patents. If you want a design patent we will give you the information so you can do it yourself.
Beware of low prices under $4,000 for a utility patent. Often costs for drawings, PTO fees, filing amendments, patent prosecution and Issue fees have not been included, and can be substantial. Often more than the initial price. Also be aware that very few patent applications are allowed on their first pass through the PTO. The application claims and description usually needs modification and can take considerable time depending on how hard your patent attorney is trying to get you broad patent protection. InventionMakers charges a flat fee, with only the Issue Fee due when the patent is allowed 1 - 3 years after applying. In this way you can know exactly what it will cost you to get a patent. Also, since we are co-owners with you, we have an interest in making sure the patent is as broad as possible and provides the best possible protection. We also give a 100% money back Guarantee(not including patent search fees). If we don't get a patent, you get your money back. Thus, you know we won't lead you into applying for a patent that does not have a good chance of issuing since we would be wasting our time.
Beware of Consulting charges. These can be very expensive and not get you anywhere. InventionMakers does not charge for consulting, we are not in the "business" of giving advice, we are in the business of bringing products to market. If you want "advice" you can join an inventors club near you.
Beware of Companies which want to charge you high fees to show your invention to "prospective companies". Most of these are just out and out frauds, and show your invention to companies in on the came with them, and show "great interest" in your invention, if you send them more money. Most "real" companies will not even look at an invention unless it is at least patent pending.

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