Getting your idea or invention patented Books: • "Patent it Yourself" - by David Pressman
• "Inventing and Patenting Sourcebook" - by Richard Levy
•"The Complete Idiot's Guide to Cashing In on Your Inventions" - by Richard Levy
Web sites: •
Brainhead.com - Info on patenting and invention
•
Library of Congress - Info on product patenting
What to remember • Most ripoff invention services use a three-step program to steal money. They offer a free evaluation of the inventor's product through an 800-number, take $500 or so to fund "research," and later request another $5,000 to $6,000 for more extensive "market research."
• One such company was forced to disclose that less than 1 percent of the ideas people submit ever make it to market.
• Turn to the local bookstore or library for legitimate advice on how to bring inventions to market.
• It's important to create a working prototype of your idea, because companies won't buy ideas from sketches.
• Your best bet is to find an invention broker to propose your idea to a company.
• Non-profit inventors clubs, which can be found in many cities, also are excellent for sharing ideas and providing encouragement.
There is a push going on by two musicians, Peter Gabriel and Brian Eno, to get the control of the record industry back in artists’ hands. The two have started a group called MUDDA - Magnificent Union of Digitally Downloaded Artists. Artists who join this organization will be able to sell their music directly to people without the involvement of the record labels. Artists have always been taken advantage of by the music industry. Contracts they sign basically allow the music label to take most of the profits from the sale of the records. The music industry spends money promoting certain bands that they think could be a hit. But if they become a hit, the label gets most of the money. And it’s hard for artists to get picked up by one of the five big music labels. So, if you would like to get your name out there as a musician and keep your dough, you might want to check out MUDDA. Go to
wired.com to learn more.
And if you are trying to get your music to play on an MP3 player, there is a new service to help you out. At Rip Digital, you can have all of the music from your CD collection put into your MPs player. It’s roughly $1.25 a CD, and about $1 a CD if you have tons of CDS. To find out more, go to
ripditigal.com.
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