Ideas Unlimited review: Common Sense

The most important aspect of developing an idea is Secrecy! Do not get emotional and over anxious. Keep your idea close to the vest and only reveal it to family and/or trusted friends. Do not trust any outside source such as PAW, Davidson etc. I contacted PAW and spoke with a Jessica Perez. She informed me that the the "review panel" was convening the following day and to submit my idea by noon the same! At this point the smell of scam reeked to the high heavens. Never trust any organization with time lines or limits! I understand and so should you, that taking a concept to maket is not a easy thing to do. Licensing your product/idea is difficult but not impossible. Let me suggest the following steps to my fellow inventors. 1) Google your idea on the internet to see if it exisits. If not, search for your idead via GOOGLE PATENTS, FREEPATENTSONLINE or at the USPTO. You may have to spend hours or even days searching. It will be worth every second. Use every term you can think of related to your product. 2) If your product is not on the market for sale and you do not find it through patent searches, congrats! 3) Understand how patents are written. (read your searches)
4) Know your target market, costs and margins. 5)File for a provisional patent application YOURSELF! People at the USPTO will help you. You will need to state a brief discription of the product and a drawing to help understand its function. Cost-about $100.00.
Now You Have Protection for 1 Year! 5) Contact companies that may have interest in developing/manufacuring your idea. Use the Thomas-Net to aquire company names. Create a flyer describing your product and send it to as many companies as possible. (understand that companies are always looking for new ideas) and if your idea appeals to them, you will be contacted. If you are contacted you can negotiate terms. Don't get greedy. 8% of the products net cost is pretty good. Don't wait...Just do it! I leave you with this quote from Einstein "imagination is more important than knowledge"