So much information....

Some things to think about when looking for one of the many service providers in the inventing industry. Like most industries we have both good and bad companies selling dozens of services needed to commercialize an invention. Take the time to educate yourself on what makes a company good, and more importantly what makes a company bad. 

1.    Ask for their success rate: Ask for in writing the number of ideas they have represented and how many inventors made more money than they invested. This is required information under the Inventor Protection Act and they should provide it to you.

2.    Ask for references: Ask for the names of three satisfied customers that you can talk to. You do this with a babysitter, with a car…why not with your checkbook?

3.    Avoid too much pressure: Are their sales people calling you often using high pressure tactics?

4.    Are they sending you pre-signed confidentiality agreements in their "free kits"? Only sign agreements after you decide you want to use them or anyone else (but before discussion of any ideas).

5.    Have they asked you to write your ideas down and mail them to yourself? This process is a myth; it will not protect your idea.

6.    Early in your discussions, ask what the total cost of services will be. Not just the one they want to sell you first, ask for an outline of all their services and what ones will be required to actually allow you to make money in the end. Any hesitation to answer is normally a bad sign.

7.    Market evaluations provide an objective evaluation of the merit, technical feasibility, and commercial viability of your invention. Ask for their criteria, system of review, and the qualifications of company evaluators.

8.    Do they check on pre-existing patents for your same idea? Some companies will promote almost any idea, without knowing if there is patent infringement involved.

9.    Do their "patent searches" come without a written opinion of patentability? Do they refuse to provide in writing the resulting number of favorable patent searches vs unfavorable searches they experience?

10. If they claim to have a special relationship with a manufacturer, ask for proof. Watch out, if they ask you to submit your idea to a manufacturer before you have properly protected it.

11. Avoid a jack-of-all-trades. No one is an expert in all those fields, ask them how they can evaluate many different categories of innovation.

12. Watch out for addresses that don't match, they claim to be in one state but the mailing address is different. The same for no direct phone contact, are you always reaching their voicemail?

13. Ask all the above questions and be on triple alert if you’re responding to a slick TV, radio and magazine ad - the real guys have to advertise too, so know what to look out for.

In the end it’s YOUR responsibility to do your homework. Selecting an invention service provider is the same as buying a house. Ask people who have used the service what they experienced. Make sure the price you are paying is a good value for the service and that it is in line with what other companies charge. Be an informed consumer and check things out before you start getting out your checkbook.