I'm on vacation right now, and there's one song that just keeps being played on the radio. I love it. And part of the reason why I love it, I realized, is because it sounds like a song I've heard before -- or parts of it do anyway. I'm talking about "Blurred Lines" by...
Protecting an Idea is Easy. Selling an Idea is Hard.
When I had my first big idea, I got what I now know is the best possible advice from my patent attorney. Let me back up a little bit. The concepts I licensed when I began freelancing were very simple. Before I broke out on my own, I’d opened a novelty gift store and...
Create the Strongest Patent Possible With These 5 Tips
So you have an invention you want to protect. Before you call an attorney, spend some time familiarizing yourself with the options available to you. There are many ways to protect an idea, including provisional patent applications, copyrights, trademarks, and yes,...
Do You Really Need a Patent? It All Depends on Who You Ask.
Because I’ve been on the road promoting my new book Sell Your Ideas With or Without a Patent a lot this year, I’ve had the privilege of meeting people who are launching new products and businesses in person. Everyone wants to know, do they need a patent? Most...
3 Basics to File a Patent That Actually Has Value
Anyone who has had an idea has worried it’s going to be stolen from them. I remember exactly how fearful I felt when I had my big idea nearly 25 years ago. If you’re in the same boat now, breathe. Because I was so afraid, I rushed to contact a patent attorney who...