Author: Edwin Wold

Good invention documentation can become extremely valuable.

Consider documenting:

• Original concept
• Dates
• Sketches
• Design iterations
• Prototype development
• Testing
• Problems discovered
• Solutions developed
• Alternative designs
• Research
• Communications
• Commercial considerations

Documentation helps you communicate your invention more effectively to engineers, manufacturers, investors and patent professionals.

Inventors Arena helps inventors organize this information into a more usable invention-development process.

Many inventors believe a patent search is simply:

“Does somebody already have my invention?”

The real question is much more complicated.

You need to understand what technology already exists and how your proposed invention differs.

Patent research can also help reveal:

• Competitors
• Alternative technologies
• Industry terminology
• Potential design directions
• Expired patents
• Existing patent claims
• Areas of technological development

Inventors Arena helps inventors understand why research should occur before major commitments are made.

A patent can provide valuable intellectual-property rights.

But a patent doesn’t automatically provide:

• Customers
• Manufacturing
• Distribution
• Revenue
• Investors
• Licensing
• Marketing

I’ve seen inventors become so focused on obtaining intellectual property that they forget to ask the commercial question:

“Who is going to pay for this?” AND “How will I make money from this?”

At Inventors Arena, we encourage inventors to think about IP and commercialization together.

Do You Need a Patent Before You Build a Prototype?

This is one of the most common questions inventors ask.

The answer isn’t always yes, and it isn’t always no.

The right approach depends upon the invention, what has already been disclosed, the development stage, the intellectual-property strategy and the inventor’s commercialization plans.

That’s why “Get a patent immediately” isn’t necessarily good invention advice.

At Inventors Arena, we help inventors understand the decision-making process and prepare for discussions with appropriate patent professionals.

As a registered U.S. Patent Agent, I have spent years working with inventors around intellectual property.

The goal isn’t simply obtaining a patent.

The goal is creating intellectual property that supports a business strategy.

Most inventors don’t get stuck because they aren’t intelligent.

They get stuck because invention requires knowledge from several different disciplines.

You may understand engineering but not patents.

You may understand your industry but not manufacturing.

You may understand your product but not sales.

You may understand your customer but not licensing.

That is the problem Inventors Arena was designed to address.

Rather than asking an inventor to become an expert in everything, we help organize the journey and identify what needs to happen next.

An idea can be a thought.

An invention generally requires considerably more.

Sometimes an inventor has developed a working prototype. Sometimes the invention exists primarily as a technical concept. Sometimes there is an engineered solution that still needs refinement.

The important question is:

Can you clearly explain (in words) what is new (novel), how it works and what problem it solves?

That is one reason documentation matters.

Inventors Arena helps inventors organize their thinking and develop a clearer description of the invention before they begin making major commercialization decisions.

Inventors frequently ask:

“Do you think this is a good idea?”

That’s understandable, but it’s not the best question.

A better question is:

“What evidence would tell me whether this idea has commercial potential?”

That changes the discussion from opinion to investigation.

A good invention evaluation should consider:

• Customer problem
• Competitive products
• Market size
• Differentiation
• Patent landscape
• Manufacturing
• Price
• Distribution
• Customer willingness to buy
• Potential licensing opportunities

Inventors Arena helps turn “I think this is a great idea” into “Here is why I believe this opportunity is worth pursuing.”

Before paying for a patent, prototype, manufacturing run, website or marketing campaign, ask:

1. What problem does my invention solve?
2. Who has that problem?
3. How are they solving it today?
4. Why would they switch?
5. Is there a realistic path to making money?

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t invest in your invention.

It means you should invest intelligently.

At Inventors Arena, we help inventors work through these questions before they start spending heavily.

Sometimes the answer is “move forward.”

Sometimes the answer is “modify the idea.”

And occasionally, the best answer is “don’t spend another dollar until you learn more.”

That can be incredibly valuable advice.

1. You Have an Invention Idea. Now What?

Introduction

Having an invention idea can be exciting. It can also be overwhelming.

You may have spent months thinking about a problem, sketching solutions, talking with friends or building an early prototype. Then comes the inevitable question:

“What do I do next?”

That is where many inventors get stuck.

An invention isn’t automatically a business simply because it is clever. There is a journey between having an idea and having something that customers will pay for.

The Inventors Arena approach

At Inventors Arena, we look at that journey in stages:

• Define the invention
• Research the existing market
• Evaluate patentability
• Evaluate market potential
• Develop the product
• Build or improve the prototype
• Determine manufacturing considerations
• Develop the business opportunity
• Prepare for licensing, investment or commercialization

The important thing is not necessarily doing everything at once.

It is figuring out what should happen next.

How Inventors Arena helps

Inventors Arena was created to help inventors navigate this process without immediately having to hire a collection of expensive specialists.

Our programs and a-la-carte services can help inventors move from an idea toward a more informed commercialization decision.

Call to action:
If you have an invention but aren’t sure what your next step should be, tell Edwin about your invention.

Modern inventors are no longer limited to local markets.

Technology Opened Global Opportunities

Today inventors can:

Sell internationally

License worldwide

Reach global audiences online

Different Markets Have Different Needs

Products may succeed differently across:

Cultures

Economies

Industries

Global Thinking Improves Scalability

Large-scale opportunities often emerge from international demand.

Intellectual Property May Need International Planning

Inventors should understand:

International patent considerations

Trademark protection

Distribution agreements

Final Thought

Inventors who think globally increase their long-term growth potential if done correctly. Happy inventing.