Inventions services

OVERVIEW Inventions acts as your general on the business battlefield, marshalling tried-and-trusted troops to secure strategic objectives: Our goal is to secure you a license. »»» see detail This involves 2 crucial legal steps - Patent Search and Patent Application. »»» see detail To support these procedures we co-ordinate necessary specialist work in design, prototype build and marketing. »»» see detail License negotiation is handled by CEO Colin Cramphorn personally. »»» see detail Our development schedule for your invention is systematic. »»» see detail
IMPORTANT: A NOTE ON COSTINGS »»» see indicative costs breakdown Specific services which demand financial outlay by the inventor are highlighted below in light blue. Others may apply. The cost of the services we arrange and oversee varies enormously. It all – and we mean all! – depends on the individual invention. Talk to us on 01296 728 136: when know what we're dealing with, we can offer precise estimates.
OUR GOAL - TO SECURE YOU A LICENSE As a licensing agent operating on behalf in inventors, our prime objective is to negotiate a license with a manufacturer. Licenses vary enormously in their terms, but the basic idea is for the manufacturer to pay you for the right to produce your invention and sell it. The manufacturer gains the right to all future profits, you walk away with a lump sum of cash, and we claim a commission –the value of which we will have negotiated with you previously. In other words, if you don't make money, we don't.
TWO CRUCIAL LEGAL STEPS TOWARD THAT LICENSE For you to be in a position to sell your invention you need to legally own the rights to what is known as the "intellectual property." This means, simply, the idea, the concept. To secure your intellectual property, you need to secure a Patent. Before you secure a Patent, you need to conduct a Patent Search: This is a legal process which establishes whether any Patents exist which protect an idea similar to your own. Applying for a Patent involves the presentation of extremely detailed legal documents to the Patent Office. Centrally these documents must demonstrate how your invention is a) designed to achieve a specific task and b) does so in a way which is unique. The Patent Office then processes this Patent Application – in their own time. Their appraisal period can take anything from a year to a decade to complete. And even then, the judgement may be negative. DESIGN & MARKETING As soon as a Patent Application is made, we are able to promote your invention safely. For this, we need a written presentation, technical drawings, a 3D computer visualisation of the finished product, and a press release. Ideally, we also need a prototype. We treat each invention as a brand package. There's no getting away from it - an idea on paper is more than pen and ink; it is whole world of commercial potential for everyone involved, and this potential needs to be presented strategically. Of course, at first manufacturers may be "too busy" to appreciate your invention immediately; That's why our written presentations - which are central to our communications strategy - are concise and carefully-structured. We offer: Summary of commercial potential Colour 3D computer visualisation Inventor background Detailed product specification Detailed design drawings An overview of the market, including retailing options Legal information Commercial arrangements Press Release We nail down the basic selling point that sums up your invention, and structure our presentation around it. We keep to the point. We support our proposal with precise marketing statistics. Above all, we trust in the quality of the idea. Crisp brand communication allows us to develop trust with manufacturers. It is always very useful to have something tangible which demonstrates how your invention works. It doesn't need to be the finished article. Sometimes, however, an invention does not lend itself to prototype manufacture without impractically huge outlay. This is accepted within the industry, particularly if the technological components are in the public domain (ie technology that everybody knows works). With all appropriate marketing materials in place, we target manufacturers likely to be interested in your idea and send one of our sales team to talk to them face-to-face. LICENSE NEGOTIATION Should a manufacturer express firm interest in your invention, CEO Colin Cramphorn takes over negotiations from our sales team. Colin has huge experience in license negotiation. Eary in 2005 he was asked to deliver a presentation on this crucial area to delegates at an IILP conference.

PROJECT ROADMAP Our systematic approach to inventions development underlines our usefulness to inventors. There are so many things that need to be done, and done in a specific order for your invention to even be ready for market – let alone successfully integrated with it. And what happens when things go wrong? Laying out our schedule may make it look easy. But don't think you can negotiate it on your own. Our roadmap divides roughly into 3 phases: Calculate Communicate Accumulate

	PHASE 1 First contact with inventor Non-Disclosure Agreement signed Initial invention concept assessment Fee projections and action plan confirmed with inventor Patent Search initiated Design modifications discussed Patent Lawyers briefed Patent Application can be filed from this point on Potential manufacuring partners researched

	PHASE 2 Market research commissioned Written presentation & press release commissioned Technical drawings commissioned "Hot Inventions" showcase discussed Inventions sales team briefed on concept Marketing materials deployed as "hot" and "cold" direct mail Sales team allocated manufacturer targets Sales team approach targets through hot & cold calling; Inventions HQ issues targeted press releases & answers queries centrally

	PHASE 3 First "hot" contact identified Sales representative feeds back to Inventions HQ Sales representative acts as liaison between potential partner and Inventions Extra information and further discussions arranged as required; inventor remains in the loop via Inventions Marketing Dpt. With firm interest confirmed, Inventions Chief Colin Cramphorn advances negotiations personally License deal discussed with inventor & manufacturer separately The deal is struck in person It is crucial for Inventions to continue managing the license. Further opportunities need to be assessed, and royalty payments may need to be policed (particularly in the Far East)