| Forewerd | p. xiii |
| Introduction | p. 1 |
| The Climate for Independent Inventors | p. 2 |
| Why Did I Write This Book? | p. 3 |
| What Is in This Book? | p. 3 |
| The Meaning of Success | p. 4 |
| Case Study: An Automotive Accessory (Part 1) | p. 6 |
| Commercialization 101 | p. 11 |
| Moving from the Drafting Table to the Store Shelf | |
| The Dilemma of Perceived Value | p. 11 |
| Is the Clock Ticking? | p. 13 |
| Prototype, Patent, or Market: Which to Do First? | p. 13 |
| Research Your Industry: The Real First Step | p. 14 |
| Is Licensing Your Invention the Way to Go? | p. 16 |
| Marketability versus Licensability | p. 19 |
| What Do You Have That You Can License? | p. 20 |
| Whom Can You License To? | p. 22 |
| So What Does It Take? | p. 23 |
| Keep It in Perspective | p. 24 |
| Case Study: Tire Technology | p. 25 |
| Timing Is (Almost) Everything | p. 31 |
| Formulating Your Patent Strategy and Protecting What's Yours | |
| Just What Is a Patent? | p. 32 |
| How Necessary Is a Patent? | p. 32 |
| Safeguarding Your Proprietary Property | p. 32 |
| Patent Searches | p. 34 |
| Provisional Applications | p. 39 |
| Shop Rights for Employers and Institutions | p. 40 |
| Patent Partners | p. 42 |
| Some Strategies for Patent Holders | p. 44 |
| Foreign Patenting | p. 46 |
| Case Study: An Automotive Accessory (Part 2) | p. 47 |
| Merket and Industry Research | p. 51 |
| Your Ticket to Free Expert Advice and Lasting Business Relationships | |
| Just Talk to People | p. 51 |
| Market Position | p. 55 |
| The Consumer Product Pipeline | p. 56 |
| Pull-Through Sales | p. 61 |
| Mail-Order Markets | p. 62 |
| Interviewing for Industrial Inventions | p. 64 |
| Trade Associations | p. 66 |
| Trade Shows: What's in Them for You? | p. 67 |
| Test Marketing | p. 74 |
| Why Interviewing Works | p. 78 |
| Anticipated Costs and Timetable | p. 78 |
| What's Next? | p. 79 |
| Case Study: An Automotive Accessory (Part 3) | p. 80 |
| Time To Pick the Lineup | p. 83 |
| Qualifying and Contacting Appropriate Licensees | |
| The Smooth Success | p. 84 |
| Picking the Lineup | p. 86 |
| Making Contact | p. 90 |
| What Decision Makers Can Tell You | p. 91 |
| Disclosure Agreements | p. 97 |
| Your Own Disclosure Agreement | p. 99 |
| Patent Strategy, Continued | p. 104 |
| Your Next Steps | p. 105 |
| Case Study: The Picture Perfect Deal? (Part 1) | p. 107 |
| The Plan Comes Together | p. 113 |
| Submitting to Companies and Forming a Commercialization Strategy | |
| A Few Words about Strategy | p. 113 |
| What to Submit | p. 115 |
| Initial Responses from Key Decision Makers | p. 118 |
| Determining Your Invention's Market Value | p. 120 |
| Foreign Licensing and Patenting | p. 124 |
| Structuring a Licensing Deal | p. 126 |
| Joint Venture Opportunities | p. 128 |
| Life after Rejection | p. 130 |
| Case Study: The Picture Perfect Deal? (Part 2) | p. 133 |
| Brass tacks | p. 145 |
| Negotiating Your Compensation and Other Contract Terms | |
| Royalties | p. 146 |
| Some Thoughts on Negotiating | p. 147 |
| The License Contract | p. 148 |
| Negotiating Contract Terms | p. 149 |
| Contract Terms | p. 151 |
| Other Terms | p. 167 |
| Who Will Determine the Terms and Conditions? | p. 169 |
| Case Study: An Automotive Accessory (Part 4) | p. 171 |
| Victory Through Teamwork | p. 175 |
| When to Use Professional Help and How to Find the Best | |
| Help with Patents | p. 175 |
| Help with Commercializing Your Invention | p. 177 |
| Help with Patent Infringement | p. 180 |
| Case Study: An Automotive Accessory (Part 5) | p. 186 |
| Conclusion: The End of The Rainbow | p. 195 |
| Afterword: The Future for Inventor's Agents | p. 197 |
| Appendices | p. 199 |
| General Information Concerning Patents | p. 199 |
| Patent and Trademark Depository Libraries | p. 216 |
| Invention Evaluation Criteria | p. 221 |
| Risk/Reward Ratio Chart | p. 225 |
| Simplified Steps: A Quick-Reference Flow Chart of the Invention Commercialization Process | p. 229 |
| Disclosure Agreement | p. 232 |
| Resources | p. 235 |
| Government Contacts | p. 235 |
| Government Programs | p. 236 |
| Patent Searching and Patenting | p. 240 |
| Private Organizations | p. 241 |
| Publications for Inventors | p. 245 |
| Research Resources | p. 245 |
| Small Business Resources | p. 249 |
| Special Resources | p. 251 |
| Trade Shows | p. 253 |
| Glossory | p. 255 |
| Patent and New Product Marketing Workbook | p. 267 |
| Index | p. 354 |
| About The Author | p. 361 |