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Should You License or Manufacture Your Invention?

Most inventors follow a typical pattern: They perfect their invention, determine its marketability, and take steps to protect it under patent laws. But then comes a difficult decision. Should the inventor license the invention to a third party, or should the inventor manufacture and market the invention? This decision will affect not only how you earn money, but also how much financing you need to proceed.

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provisional patent application (PPA)

The provisional patent application is a simple, inexpensive strategy to preserve your rights while you decide whether to file for a regular patent. It establishes an official U.S. patent application filing date for the invention and is much less expensive, and much easier to prepare, than a regular patent application.

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What can I do if a company uses my idea without permission?

I gave a company an idea in writing. It said it was not interested. Then it ended up making a similar product -- some minor changes, same name -- and selling it in many stores. What can I do?

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