| Contemplating that exciting new product idea. You
have read Michael Lewis' The NEW NEW THING and
you yourself have a unique idea. Let's talk a
little bit about your idea, whether you should seek a
patent or not, whom you should go to -- if anyone -- to
see if it can be commercialized and marketed. Also, after
you have read this, click on THE
DIFFERENCE below. Let us say, for illustration, that it is a novel product for a HOMELAND SECURITY emergency kit - [wait & click on this later] -e.g., a Wal-Mart marketable emergency hardware item for every home that would be quicker and easier to use than the duct tape and rolls of plastic solution that Tom Ridge originally proposed to cover your windows in the wake of the 9-11 attack. Or, maybe it deals with a broader science and technology strategy to address the security of our boarders or the safety of our transportation systems. (Click at bottom for exciting news about Federal funding grants.) And, perhaps it could be a new instrument for land surveying utilizing Global Positioning Satellites (GPS). In any case, you've done your homework, perhaps built a prototype, gone through the provisional copyright or patent processes, and you are really confident that there is a market for such a product. But, a voice is telling you 'you're no Jim Clark' and you have doubts about whether you are up to the task of taking a product to market alone even with the help of friends and associates.
However, before there can be mutual agreement regarding the potential of our firm making a useful contribution as coach, counselor, and/or mentor to evaluate and perhaps launch your product or service, we will want to be satsified that you have given careful thought to the following areas:
We begin with appraisal of product feasibility. We believe we are particularly qualified to provide consulting services to an individual or company that has a unique idea requiring special attention to production engineering. Few of our competitors have a resident professional with high-tech manufacturing engineering experience. As part of our process to decide about providing coaching and counseling to an innovator, we screen each product idea brought to us to decide if it fits with our own interests and expertise -- particular emphasis is given to production engineering issues. As part of our services to those clients with whom we contract to work, a frank appraisal of product feasibility -- including production -- is included as we look at your proposed plan of attack to develop the product. Additional outside advice may also be sought. Your Plan of Attack. Once we work through a decision point, we can help you in refining your business plan. We assume you have already done the mundane tasks ranging from getting a trademark to finding good legal counsel on potential liability issues, needed documentation and seeking investors for a start-up company you may wish to form to market the product. {Note: Generally, we are not interested in being part of the day-to-day operation and management of such a company, but we might seek a royalty position in lieu of some portion of a retainer.} Import/export Issues Are Our Forte. If it is a product for export, we maintain contacts in overseas capitals, and in Geneva, Switzerland, to deal with product approval and import/export licensing. We have first-hand experience with GATT international trade laws of the World Trade Organization (WTO). You may want help to facilitate establishment of a new, or to further an existing, joint venture with the aim of manufacturing and/or marketing your product overseas. A PATENTED high-tech product
is where many of us began. Early in his career, our
firm's founder and C.E.O. (who worked at Texas
Instruments with the late Jack Kilby, co-inventor of the
integrated-circuit chip -- see June 22,
2005 Washington Post,
Page C-1) designed and patented with another
associate at TI the original SCR universal motor speed
control used today on all variable-speed electric drills,
sewing machines, and blenders (washing machines use
variations). The fierce litigation that later followed
within the small-tool industry over that invention is an
example, however, of the risks in marketing a patent.
Several articles that appeared in the Forbes Summer
ASAP 2002 dealt with patents, and we
believe they are must reading
for all inventors. And, finally, a good alternative to a patent
for some products is to market the product as a
trade secret, so click on MARKETING
TRADE SECRETS below if you believe your
product might fall in this category. |
Incubator for innovative ideas. It is
at this point that you may conclude that some counseling
might help along the way as you ponder key decision
points. Innovative marketing ideas for new products that
are on the 'cutting-edge' technology-wise have become a
specialty of our firm, 
