Friday, June 28, 2013
Monday, June 10, 2013
The Inventor’s Notebook post AIA
America has finally
joined the rest of the world and shifted from a ‘First to invent ’ system to a
‘First to file’ one. Now all I’m waiting for is for the Metric system to come
kicking in the door; 12 inches in a foot, 5,260 feet in a mile. Seriously! Thankfully
I didn’t have to study math in America, word problems would have been the death
of me. But I digress; under the new America Invents Act passed in 2011 a number
of sweeping changes have been made to Patent law . Amongst these amendments
probably the most noteworthy is the change to a ‘First to file’ system. The
name may seem slightly misleading as it really means the first inventor to
file. The law now favors the inventor
who files for a patent and reduces his invention to practice first over the
inventor who first came up with the idea for the invention (if separate
claimants).
You may be thinking
that if the law doesn’t care about who conceived of an invention first then
maintaining documentation to prove the same, such as an Inventor’s notebook,
has in effect, become impractical. Even though this line of reasoning seems
intuitive at first, it is a superficial assessment of the change. An inventor’s
notebook does more than just establish who came up with the idea for an
invention first. Reduction to practice is equally, if not more, important. By
constantly updating your notebook you establish that you have in fact been
working actively to reduce your invention to practice. A major factor
considered while granting patent rights.
What is an
inventor’s notebook? Yes, it is basically just a book to jot down your ideas,
diagrams and progress on a particular or number of inventions in. Before
sarcastically thanking me for stating the obvious, there are a number of rules
you should know that, if overlooked, may ruin the credibility of your notebook
and make it inadmissible as evidence in court. For example the notebook must
have a fixed number of pages, each numbered. Loose leaf binders or stapling
pages later on are not allowed. You should not tear or erase any material. Do
not make any alterations or leave empty spaces; making any changes after a
witness has already signed nullifies the credibility of the entry. There should
be space for a witness to sign at the bottom of each page. Also all
supplemental material such as graphs and diagrams must be inserted permanently
with glue. It is good practice to maintain a record of a single invention in a
notebook as it easier for courts to establish a timeline without getting
confused.
One of the main
reasons patent applications are rejected are because they lack novelty based on
a current reading of prior art of the relevant field. Technology is advancing
at an exponential rate. No really, it is. Those are not just sugary words but
fact backed by verifiable data. People familiar with Moore’s Law and its many derivations will attest to this rate of growth in the
field of electronic technology. Even though it is slowing down, the amount of
knowledge being created in each and every field day after day is mind boggling.
The reason I bring this up is because an idea one believes is novel today may
just as well lack novelty in a matter of months or alternatively a person can
challenge a patent application on the grounds that there is a reference to
existing prior art that the applicant failed to mention at time of filing.
Proving beyond doubt, that you had in fact come up with an idea before it was
referenced in prior art becomes imperative.
But don’t relax just
yet, conception predating prior art is advantageous, no doubt, but in and of
itself not enough. You have to show that you were actively reducing the
invention to practice since conception. This is where recording all your
updates come into the picture. Courts do not rely on your oral testimony when
verifying the truth. You could be George Washington incarnate; the court would
still need evidentiary proof apart from your word. Inventor’s notebooks are
verified by experienced witnesses in the field and lend it authenticity.
Protecting your
invention is not the only advantage of maintaining an inventor’s notebook. You
can also use it to document research and development. This not only protects
your R&D, but also keeps a time-stamped record of all research activities.
Making it easier to identify trade secrets your company possesses while also
providing proof in case of any derivation proceedings. Another benefit of
documenting R&D is that in case an entrepreneur of a company spends a
substantial amount of time in the research facilities, he can seek a research
tax credit. But without supporting documentation keeping track of the hours
spent in research, no claim can be made.
I won’t lie though,
maintaining a number of inventor’s notebooks and following the stipulated rules
can be bothersome. Not to mention having to get everything verified by a
witness time and again. An easy alternative is Traklight’s IP Vault®. It stores
all your documentation online, secure and time stamped. All your uploaded files
are inherently verified by Traklight®. Another advantage is that since
everything is stored on a cloud you can retrieve your data on the fly wherever
you are. Not only for the technologically savvy, online storage of sensitive
data reduces the hassle of protecting intellectual property for anyone.
Irrespective of what mode you prefer, maintaining a log of every stage of your
invention is a must and should not be ignored.
This article is
intended to be general information and nothing in this article constitutes
legal advice. Please consult with an attorney before making any intellectual
property decisions.
[1] It is
based on an observation made by Intel co-founder Gordon Moore, who stated that
the number of transistors and integrated circuits would double every 2 years. This
rate is predicted to slow down by 2015.
[1] The
rate of development of other electronic technology is also strongly linked to
Moore’s Law. For example, pixels in cameras, memory in computing devices and
processor speeds.
[1] Basim Shami ,et al v. Commissioner (T.C. Memo. 2012-78)
Friday, June 7, 2013
Women Invented Products Showcased on Good Day Sacramento
The Women Inventorz Network was so honored to be given the opportunity to share some of the amazing inventions in our community of women inventors on Good Day Sacramento. Here are the products that were actually showcased on the show and where you can buy them:
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Drink Duets
Click here to see how you can get your product on the next segment opportunity.
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A tireless search
amongst ordinary and overused patterns left Elonka empty handed for that
perfect décor to compliment her infant son's room. This void sparked a creative
mission to design unique and tasteful selections; the kind of item you buy for
that special little person or grown-up in your life! A small personal line
fulfilled that void and when word got out, she went from giving her creations
as gifts to taking orders.
Her design goal from
the beginning has been to craft quality pieces, research and source the best
materials to offer customers high-end merchandise at affordable prices.
Designing beyond the ordinary to extraordinary!
Meri Cherry, an
elementary school teacher in Los Angeles, California, was tired of seeing her
students come to school in t-shirts that said "I'm a spoiled brat"
and other negative phrases. She knew, if
given the chance, the youth of today would come up with great ideas for
t-shirts that were positive and full of energy and fun, just like the students
in her class. A few months later,
VeryMeri was born. Meri's idea was
simple, leave the designing to the kids
while giving back to the community.
Show everyone what you would want to see on a t-shirt. You are only limited to your imagination! It can be anything from words, characters, shapes and colors or a mix of everything! Let the world see what you would wear!
Show everyone what you would want to see on a t-shirt. You are only limited to your imagination! It can be anything from words, characters, shapes and colors or a mix of everything! Let the world see what you would wear!
The Q-Redew is a
handheld hair steamer that quickly restores moisture, rejuvenates and reshapes
hair using warm steam as mist. Used on dry hair it revives in minutes and
leaves
hair dry. Q-Redew was created by a curly
girl for wavy/curly/kinky coily hair, so she understands what curly hair needs!!!
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Drink Duets
Drink Duets are soft, reusable, waterproof Bottle Tags that Keep you and your Drink Together!
Slip a colored tag over the neck of your water bottle and you'll be able to keep track of your drink. They come with 12 different color tags to a package. The tags can also be written on or decorated if having different colors isn't enough to differentiate. Great in the beach cooler, for parties and on the sports field!
The Result: saving money on bottled drinks, saving time and trips to the grocery store, and no more spreading of germs by accidentally sharing bottles.
And Drink Duets Glass Skirts perfectly complement the Bottle Tags for casual entertaining. They wrap around the stem of a wine glass and come with 8 different colors in each package. The big bright colors make it easy to remember which drink is yours!
SwaggerTags are
identification tags that reflect your personality and help you keep track of
your gear. By customizing with your own photo, image or logo, you can let
everyone know it’s your stuff. You decide what personal information to include
and your SwaggerTag reveals the information only if it is opened.
A SwaggerTag is
water, weather and impact resistant, with strong attachment points and ties to
ensure it will stay with your gear. Available in six distinctive colours: Gekco
Green, Dolphin Blue, Hot Pink, Mustang Purple, Dragon Red and Spider Grey.
Corky Koutures
"Glamour Galore Collection" is a fun, glam and surprising way to gift
a bottle of wine, champagne, liquor, sparkling juices, gift cards, money,
jewelry & more. Ones gifting and personalization options are bound only by
ones imagination in Corky Koutures hassle free, customizable or regiftable all
inclusive presentation package. Perfect for Anniversaries, Bachelorette
Parties, Birthdays, Bridal (Bride & Groom Gift, Brides Maids, Maid Of
Honor, Mothers Of Bride & Groom, Guest Gifts, Decorative Pieces,) Corporate
Gifting,Christmas Gifts, Debutantes, Ladies Clubs, New Baby Girl Arrivals
,Sweet 16, Pampered Princess Parties, Proposals, and everything in between!
3Girls
Holistic believes that natural beauty is a result of a healthy and vibrant
life; that health is multifaceted, and that you look your best when you feel
your best! Their line of products is intended to not only nourish your skin,
but your overall health as well. Because our skin is capable of absorbing up to
60% of what we put on it, they believe that you shouldn’t put anything on your
skin that you wouldn’t want to have inside your body. For that reason, their
entire line is 100% natural, handcrafted with either organic or wild-harvested
ingredients that have been carefully selected due to demonstrated benefits that
they bring to our skin.
Have
you ever tried to grab all of your grocery bags in both hands just to avoid
making one more trip to your car? Or how about when you get that uncomfortable
feeling that strains your hands while carrying plastic bags? With The Shopping
Pal by Zoya, you’ll never have to worry about either of these things ever
again! The Shopping Pal is specifically designed to help you carry up to 10
shopping bags in one hand, comfortably. It eliminates finger strain and stress.
The ergonomic design makes it easy to fit conveniently in your purse or glove
box. The Shopping Pal comes with an accompanying bag that zips into a small and
easy to store shape. The Shopping Pal saves you multiple trips back and forth
from your car to the house by allowing you to carry all of your bags at one
time. If you live in a high pedestrian area or an urban environment, the
Shopping Pal is also great for saving you time and trips. It locks your bags in
place so if they are in your trunk and they roll around, you can just pick up
the handle and all the bags will be together, you don't have to scramble around
trying to get them together.
Nightmare Nibblers
come from a land far, far away – a magical place where nighttime fears and
nightmares simply don’t stand a chance thanks to the Nibblers’ HUGE appetite
for frightening things!
And best of all…the
Nightmare Nibbler is NOT fussy when it comes to choosing what to eat! That’s
great news because even if what scares you changes, your Nibbler’s appetite for
them won’t! As the fun rhyming poem on the hangtag describes, they stay awake
and on duty through the night protecting kids from scary things that might give
them a fright!
FlopTopz are the
only full-length cushioned insole designed for flip flops and sandals. FlopTopz add cushioning, renews tattered
insoles and adds a fashionable touch to your summer shoes! They are made from a recycled foam, covered
in a slip-resistant fabric and are moisture wicking, odor absorbing and
anti-microbial. FlopTopz ECO comes in 3
sizes and 8 patterns...everyone will find their favorite style whether it's
bright and fun or simply a solid to go incognito! "Save your Soles" today!
Click here to see how you can get your product on the next segment opportunity.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Get Your Product on Television for Summer Time Fun
This opportunity is filled with products that are relevant to Summertime Fun, BUT we will have a new opportunity soon where your product could be a great fit!!! Stay tuned to see the products that were selected on Good Day Sacramento!
they want more from our Network!
Here is the next great opportunity!...
5
Lucky Women will have their product
on
air with the wonderful Good Day Sacramento Team~
Showcasing great products for
Summer Time Fun!
Summer Time Fun!
What you get along with your featured segment:
• Featured on a well-regarded talk show with a large viewership
• Media clip for your own marketing
• Aggressive promotion online through the Women Inventorz Network
-Showcasing segment on our homepage reaching over
200,000 pageviews per month
-Social media promotion to well over 500,000 fans and followers through Twitter
and Facebook through our popular tweet campaigns.
-Permanent blog posting featuring each product that was showcased on the
segment and where to purchase it. This will bring SEO to your websites long
after the segment has taken place. This is worth the fee alone!!!
• Media clip for your own marketing
• Aggressive promotion online through the Women Inventorz Network
-Showcasing segment on our homepage reaching over
200,000 pageviews per month
-Social media promotion to well over 500,000 fans and followers through Twitter
and Facebook through our popular tweet campaigns.
-Permanent blog posting featuring each product that was showcased on the
segment and where to purchase it. This will bring SEO to your websites long
after the segment has taken place. This is worth the fee alone!!!
The cost is $225 per selected invention for this great
promotional package!
Deadline for consideration is Monday, June 10th.
Here's how to submit...leave a comment below with a link to your website, or more information about your product. We will contact you directly if we feel it's a fit. There are only five spots, so this will fill up fast!
Deadline for consideration is Monday, June 10th.
Here's how to submit...leave a comment below with a link to your website, or more information about your product. We will contact you directly if we feel it's a fit. There are only five spots, so this will fill up fast!
Here's our last segment on Good Day Sacramento:
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