simpleventures

Document your idea

admin — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 02:24:14 +0000

It’s a good idea to document your idea each step along the way. More than just an inventors journal, this book will also help you take your idea to market.

Invention protection

admin — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:37:57 +0000

Want to get your idea filed with the U.S. Patent Office but don’t have the wherewithal to file a regular application ? Consider filing a provisional patent application (PPA). Unlike a regular application, you only need to provide a complete description of the invention (structure and operation) and any drawings necessary to understand the description. And if you’re an individual, non-profit or small business the fee is only $110.

You must however, file a regular patent application to ultimately get patent protection. If your PPA adequately discloses the invention and you file a regular application, with an amendment referencing the PPA, the PPA filing date serves as the date of your invention. Assuming your patent is granted, you’ll get 20-years of protection from the date of the regular filing. In any case, you must file for a patent within 1-year of the invention’s use. In the meantime, you won’t be able to stop other companies from using your idea until a patent is granted. Until it is, its best to have anyone you show it to sign a confidentially agreement.

Properly protecting your idea can be a tricky endeavor. You may want to consult an attorney or pick up a copy of Patent It Yourself, 13th Edition at your local library.

Free legal forms

admin — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:47:14 +0000

With the help of our local librarian, we’ve discovered Get Free Legal Forms, a site that offers business, consumer, corporation, employment, estate, family, financial, health, real estate and trust agreements and forms. For free!

We used the “Enter search keyword” tool at the right top portion of the site to quickly get to the documents we needed. Near the bottom of the document, you’ll find a Microsoft Word file download option to customize the form to fit your particular situation.

SBA loan help to expire

admin — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 04:43:59 +0000

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act makes the Small Business Administration (SBA) part of the solution to the recent economic crisis. The Act provides the SBA with $730 million and makes it easier for small business to get financing. The assistance includes the elimination of loan fees and increasing guarantees to 90% on some loans. But you need to act soon, these benefits will last until the end of the calendar year, or until the funding runs out.

The SBA provides a finance primer here.