Along the way other aspects must be considered and dealt with, such as Patent Searches, Market Research to identify the right combination of people who could be very interested in your product, the checking and presenting of prototypes and, above all, rigorously implementing safeguards to prevent misuse of an invention.

PATENT SEARCHES

The very first step to consider in processing your invention, which will save you time and money, is to carry out a patent search. Before a patent can be granted, or before a registered design can be certified, your invention must be found to be novel, and it must be new. Should someone else have the same idea before you and has submitted an application, your application may be denied. It is an unfortunate fact of life that scores of thousands of applications have been declined because the inventor was slow to act, and also because the invention was not dealt with in the correct procedural manner. You must take immediate action with your invention. In other words it is in your best interests to contact PATENT SOLUTIONS without delay so we can arrange to have a search completed through our associate.

PROTOTYPES

If feasible, a prototype, machinery perhaps, should be made available for inspection if possible. Sometimes financial constraints dominate the ability to carry out to the fullest extent research and development, or capital to manufacture a viable prototype. Whatever the situation we can arrange to have a working prototype made for inventors, which will arouse interest, particularly if it is novel, and it is vital for demonstration purposes. Nothing can substitute a visual working model.

MARKET RESEARCH

Market research is essential, more so if it is your intention to register an International Application under the Patent Co-Operation Treaty ("PCT") which could be quite costly. Nonetheless, it is extremely important to obtain a reflection from the marketplace. It would be prudent for you to arrange exploratory research in your home market before contemplating international registration. Naturally, we would see to it that you were protected by provisional application before embarking on any market research.