2 mistakes to avoid as a new inventor

On behalf of Kaufhold & Dix Patent Law posted in Patent Law on Tuesday, March 6, 2018.

Many inventors in Minnesota and South Dakota who became successful did not have a detailed roadmap to follow. Also, they were not experienced entrepreneurs or wealthy investors. What they did have, however, was the determination to succeed. If you believe you are the newest inventor of an idea or app that is going to take the world by storm, you should be willing to do what it takes to overcome any obstacles that may come your way during the invention and patent process.

Being an inventor is not easy. It is not necessarily cheap either. To minimize the amount of money you spend trying to get your invention off the ground, consider the following mistakes to avoid.

Not knowing the industry

Take time to learn the industry. You do not need to become an expert overnight, but you should become knowledgeable about the safety standards, competition and technology that your creation is in. The more you know, the more you can plan and design a product that will be in long-term demand.

Ignoring the importance of a patent

You obviously want to make money off your invention. While you can achieve that with the right marketing and advertising tactics, you should not overlook getting a patent. There are several types of patents to consider. If you rush to market and sell your invention before getting a patent, someone could steal your idea and file a patent for it. The person could then sue you for violating the patent for the stolen idea or invention, and all of your hard work could end up in vain.

Being an inventor in today’s economy is not easy. There are many things you do not know. The race to invent the next best thing is full of competition. You never know who is out there waiting and watching. Take time to fully develop your idea and bring it to life. To avoid falling prey to common pitfalls that new inventors often encounter, speak to a patent law attorney for guidance throughout the invention process.