It is critical to keep the idea confidential until the patent is filed. Tell as few people as possible, and have everyone sign a Confidentiality Agreement (click to download a free copy of a standard Confidentiality Agreement) before you tell them the idea. This is not just important to prevent theft – it is also important to prove to the courts that you have not publicly disclosed the idea or offered the idea for sale before you file your patent application. Have even friends and family sign! See our Forms page to download a free copy of a standard confidentiality agreement.

If you have an engineer or other prototyping expert help you in product development and/or manufacturing, it is critical to have the consultant sign a Work Agreement (click to download a free copy of a standard Work Agreement). If a paid assistant/consultant improves your invention, he or she may have to be listed as a co-inventor on your patent. Even though you are paying them for their work, they will get rights to the invention as a co-inventor. A Work Agreement assigns their potential patent rights to the inventor.  

These protections are simple, they cost nothing, and they will help lock in your secure ownership of your invention. Take advantage of them!

If you have any questions, please give me a call at 800-949-0255 (toll free), or send an email to eric@karich.net