Welcome to the Forum for InventorSpot.com, the most popular invention related website in the world. Read our welcome message.
Moderators: Michelle, Scrupulous, Roger Brown, citizen
2 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Need help with Patent companies
by Tigergirl0518 » Fri Feb 22, 2008 6:07 pm
- Tigergirl0518
- White Belt
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Fri Feb 22, 2008 5:46 pm
Hello everyone,
I am new to your site but I need some help and direction on the patent process. I do have an invention but need some guidance on choosing the right Patent company. I have been reading some "horror" stories about different companies and I do not want to make a mistake. I did contact a company about my invention and they were very professional people however when I contacted the BBB in that city they were not a accredited company and they are currently unsatisfactory with the BBB.
So, as you can tell I am in much need of some good companies that I can contact. Please help!
I am new to your site but I need some help and direction on the patent process. I do have an invention but need some guidance on choosing the right Patent company. I have been reading some "horror" stories about different companies and I do not want to make a mistake. I did contact a company about my invention and they were very professional people however when I contacted the BBB in that city they were not a accredited company and they are currently unsatisfactory with the BBB.
So, as you can tell I am in much need of some good companies that I can contact. Please help!
by Work2XL » Sat Feb 23, 2008 12:18 am
-
Work2XL - Blue Belt
- Posts: 478
- Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2007 7:56 pm
- Location: Denver
Welcome Tigergirl,
When it comes to Patent attorneys / agents there is a lot to be confused about. I can give you what I look for. Most of my criteria can be debated, but it's what I use.
1) Location. I don't know enough about patents to know a good attorney/agent from a bad one. I want someone I can sit and discuss my project with so I can read them. If they are looking at the clock trying make it to another meeting, then they didn't schedule enough time for me. Not a good sign. Can they get excited about my project? Are they faking it? Am I a customer or an invoice to them? Can they summarize my idea back to me correctly? How would they proceed?
2) Field of expertise. Are they an engineer? While the most frustrating people in my life are engineers, I need a legal engineer. Someone who can see loop holes, and every tiny detail.
3) Intelligence. I want someone who I can tell they have to talk back down to my level. Not someone condescending, but someone who just normally thinks at a higher level than I do, but can explain things in lay terms.
4) Not burned out. If they look like they punch a clock, run away.
5) Knowledge. Do some research and find an obscure question and answer. I asked one that I was interviewing and he couldn't answer it. Our own Scrupulous knew the answer when I posted it here. He could probably give you a few questions to ask. While knowing Patent law matters, the biggest part is writing the claims.
6) History. Ask to read previous patents he's written. Look them over, if you don't know much about them, take one to the next agent/attorney you talk to and ask them to review and give an impression. They may not want to if you leave the other agents name on the top page.
7) Free consultation. I'm broke so I can afford to pay $200 an hour to interview someone.
One other thing I did. I stalked some agents. I went the the Patent office website. I got a list of people who recently passed the exam or registered. I searched for people in Denver. I found 12. It gave addresses as well as those what firm they are with. From the address that were not with a firm, I did a people search and got a phone number. I don't recommend calling them at home. Especially if they are a women. It creeps them out. You can send them a letter.
My hope was to find someone cheap that was looking to build a resume. Once I explained how I got their info, they were actually impressed. I talked to about 7. Some are prospects for future reference for when I file a RPA. For now, I am burning my remaining brain cells to write my own provisional patent applications.
Just to clarify, I'm actually not Psycho. Just a bit more resourceful than I should be for my own good.
Randy
When it comes to Patent attorneys / agents there is a lot to be confused about. I can give you what I look for. Most of my criteria can be debated, but it's what I use.
1) Location. I don't know enough about patents to know a good attorney/agent from a bad one. I want someone I can sit and discuss my project with so I can read them. If they are looking at the clock trying make it to another meeting, then they didn't schedule enough time for me. Not a good sign. Can they get excited about my project? Are they faking it? Am I a customer or an invoice to them? Can they summarize my idea back to me correctly? How would they proceed?
2) Field of expertise. Are they an engineer? While the most frustrating people in my life are engineers, I need a legal engineer. Someone who can see loop holes, and every tiny detail.
3) Intelligence. I want someone who I can tell they have to talk back down to my level. Not someone condescending, but someone who just normally thinks at a higher level than I do, but can explain things in lay terms.
4) Not burned out. If they look like they punch a clock, run away.
5) Knowledge. Do some research and find an obscure question and answer. I asked one that I was interviewing and he couldn't answer it. Our own Scrupulous knew the answer when I posted it here. He could probably give you a few questions to ask. While knowing Patent law matters, the biggest part is writing the claims.
6) History. Ask to read previous patents he's written. Look them over, if you don't know much about them, take one to the next agent/attorney you talk to and ask them to review and give an impression. They may not want to if you leave the other agents name on the top page.
7) Free consultation. I'm broke so I can afford to pay $200 an hour to interview someone.
One other thing I did. I stalked some agents. I went the the Patent office website. I got a list of people who recently passed the exam or registered. I searched for people in Denver. I found 12. It gave addresses as well as those what firm they are with. From the address that were not with a firm, I did a people search and got a phone number. I don't recommend calling them at home. Especially if they are a women. It creeps them out. You can send them a letter.
My hope was to find someone cheap that was looking to build a resume. Once I explained how I got their info, they were actually impressed. I talked to about 7. Some are prospects for future reference for when I file a RPA. For now, I am burning my remaining brain cells to write my own provisional patent applications.
Just to clarify, I'm actually not Psycho. Just a bit more resourceful than I should be for my own good.
Randy
2 posts
• Page 1 of 1