Over seven million patents have been issued in the United States alone, but some inventions in history stand out from all the rest. This article will explore some of the world's most famous inventions and the people responsible for them.
We begin our journey into historic inventions at the beginning of the alphabet: with adhesives!
The first known use of adhesives dates all the way back...
If your invention is done, functional, and ready for sale, congratulations! You have reached a plateau that few inventors ever see with their own eyes - a finished product that is destined for store shelves. But now, it's crunch time. You want to be in stores 30 days from now. What do you do to prepare? That is the focus of today's article.
If you want to sell in stores, there is a rule you...
The way you file a patent is by filling out an application and submitting it to the United States Patent and Trademark Office for a fee. Of course, patent applications are not like job applications or credit card applications. This is where you explain your invention in gross detail and have it meticulously examined by people with scientific and/or legal training. Thusly, you want to ensure...
Documenting new ideas is not just good practice. It may be absolutely critical if you intend on getting a patent and then enforcing it. This is because patent laws in the United States are based on the "first to invent rule." Clause 101 of US Code 35 states:
"Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful...
A frequent question among Internet entrepreneurs is "Can I trademark a domain name?" The answer is yes - in some cases. Generally, the rule is that you can trademark a domain name if it is original and not just a combination of ordinary dictionary words. Legal authority NOLO dot com has the following to say on the matter:
"For instance, while domain names that use common or descriptive...
While the swift cut-and-parry of creation is the heart of an inventor's life, there is another important component - networking. Let's face it; no matter how great your invention may be, you can always benefit from talented professionals in your field that might be willing to lend a hand. Maybe it's that database programmer you've been scouring the earth for, or that distributor you need to get...
Inventing can be tough, dirty (through enthralling) work. Fortunately, inventors do not have to go it alone! As it turns out, the government makes certain resources available for inventors to use in their efforts. These resources can come in the form of grants (money) and information. Whichever type of resource you are seeking, you would do well to familiarize yourself with what is available....
If you are looking for a patent on something and the traditional sources have come up empty, you may be overlooking something: the massive amounts of stagnant intellectual property at universities. It turns out that there are thousands, if not millions, of patents just collecting dust in university research labs and libraries. But why is this the case? Why are these patents not being put to...
Some mistakes are just too fatal to overcome. If you make them, your invention is pretty much dead on the water with no hope for success. Fortunately, your invention need not be doomed to the scrap heap of useless or uninteresting contraptions.
A wise man once said that smart people learn from their mistakes, while geniuses learn from the mistakes of others. This article is an attempt to...
A growing number of people are generating ideas not to pursue them, but sell them to those who will. This trend has led to a number of companies and services who promise the ability to sell new ideas.
Before exploring the different companies who make this promise, it is important to look beyond "selling ideas" and understand what that truly means. In order to sell an idea, what you really...
