We all have ideas, and we all want to create something unique and never-seen-before. Getting a perfect idea is not as hard as you think, you just need to be creative and think of the things that are missing in the world.
However, once you find that simple solution and a product that could change the world as we know it, the next step is making sure that you are going to get credits for that. While you are in the process of inventing things, you need to be careful because someone may choose to steal your idea and pitch it as their own.
In this article, we are going to give you some tips for protecting your invention from theft.
1. Be careful who you share your ideas with
Source: bizjournals.com
When we have a new idea for a product that could be amazing, we are so excited that we want to share that with everyone. Telling your closest friends or family members is not advised, but in most cases, your secret and your idea should be safe with them.
However, one of the worst things that you can do while you are in the process of making a new product is to share that on social media or with people that you don’t know or trust. You should not tell everyone at the party that you are working on this amazing item and that it is not available anywhere in the world, and you should not even tell people about the vision you have.
The more people that know about the thing that you want to create, the more likely it is that someone will steal your idea and with that, stop your invention.
2. Make sure you document everything
Not sharing your idea with others is great, but you will need to go one step further if you don’t want to risk someone else having the same invention and getting your profits a second before you are able to make your dream come true.
To be able to show that you are actually the person who first thought of that, you will need to show proof. The proof needs to be physical things and you need to show off that you didn’t steal the idea from someone else.
It is said that you need to document everything, starting from keeping a journal on how you had this thought that led to the invention, up to the prototypes, and everything in between. Take pictures, make drawings, and don’t throw away anything related to your invention.
3. Collaborate with a professional
Source: bbva.com
The easiest way to protect your intellectual property is to collaborate with professionals that will guide you, help you, and that will teach you how to protect your idea and how to make sure your invention does not get stolen.
The process of inventing is not at all easy, and according to Invent Help, no matter how experienced or skilled you are, there are going to be moments when you don’t know what the right step forward is. In these moments, a professional service can help you and the expert can guide you on making the right choice that will save you a lot of time and trouble in the long run.
There are several steps you need to take if you want your project to be successful and if you don’t want to get stuck at a stage for moments, and even years.
For more information about this topic, check out https://kulturehub.com/inventhelp-step-by-step-guide-inventor/
4. File for patent as soon as possible
You need to file for a patent as soon as you have enough progress and you should know that the only real way that you can protect your invention is by that. Even if you do everything else right, and even if you keep this as a secret, there will be someone else in the world who thinks of the exact same thing and that could file for a patent earlier than you.
You should not postpone this process, and filing for this is easier than most people think. You will need to follow the steps and guidelines on how to do it, and there is no limit to the number of inventions you can have.
Note that this is the only way that you can prove your product is only yours and it is the only way you can make profits out of it. In case you design a product before you have the ownership rights of it, someone else may file for the patent, get the rights, and then you will end up paying fees or giving up something that you invented.
5. Be careful when you go online
Source: medium.com
We all know that in most cases, no matter how secure your connection is, your provider will get information on what you are researching and what you are doing. Even googling, or sharing things on forums can put you at risk of getting your design stolen.
Because of this, you need to be really cautious when going online, especially when googling things, researching your product, or asking questions. You may want to talk to people who could benefit from the thing that you are creating, and you need to do that if you want to ensure success on the market, but you have to be cautious about how you word things and the connection you use.
Always use encrypted websites, be careful not to spill too many secrets, and try to ask anonymous questions on different forums that would help you get the answers you need without freaking invention theft.
You can also copyright or trademark your idea before you file for a patent, and you can talk to an attorney about what you can do and what you should never do. Make sure you understand your rights and know that the more people that know about this, the easier it is going to be for someone to steal your invention. Be smart, work fast, and know that if you don’t try your skills and luck, you could never know if you are able to make an impact on the world.
