| Foreword |
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xix | |
| Introduction |
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1 | (4) |
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1 | (1) |
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Conventions Used in This Book |
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2 | (1) |
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2 | (1) |
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How This Book Is Organized |
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2 | (2) |
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Part I: Making Your Idea Yours |
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2 | (1) |
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Part II: Securing Other Intellectual Property |
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3 | (1) |
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Part III: Developing Your Idea |
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3 | (1) |
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Part IV: Commercializing Your Invention |
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3 | (1) |
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3 | (1) |
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4 | (1) |
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4 | (1) |
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4 | (1) |
| Part 1: Making Your Idea Yours |
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5 | (50) |
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Chapter 1: The Innovation Process |
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7 | (10) |
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Deciding Where to Go with Your Idea |
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7 | (2) |
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9 | (3) |
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9 | (2) |
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Participating in the Disclosure Document Program |
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11 | (1) |
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Spinning Through the Product Life Cycle |
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12 | (5) |
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17 | (10) |
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Finding Out the Functions of a Patent |
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17 | (2) |
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Knowing What's Patentable |
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19 | (1) |
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Looking at the Types of Patents |
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19 | (2) |
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Make yourself useful; get me a utility patent! |
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20 | (1) |
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20 | (1) |
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Planting the seeds of invention: The plant patent |
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21 | (1) |
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Hiring a Patent Agent or Attorney |
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21 | (3) |
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Patent agent versus patent attorney |
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22 | (1) |
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Knowing what they can do for you |
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22 | (1) |
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Choosing the right attorney or agent for the job |
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23 | (1) |
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It's a Small World: International Issues |
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24 | (3) |
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Applying for foreign patents |
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24 | (1) |
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Foreign applicants for U.S. patents |
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25 | (2) |
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Chapter 3: Conducting a Patent Search |
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27 | (8) |
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Do I Really Need to Do a Patent Search? |
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27 | (1) |
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Determining Whether Your Idea Is Really New |
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28 | (1) |
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Searching for Existing Patents |
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29 | (2) |
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Searching for patents via the Internet |
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29 | (2) |
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Searching for international patents |
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31 | (1) |
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Getting Professional Help |
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31 | (2) |
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32 | (1) |
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32 | (1) |
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Using Your Search Results |
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33 | (2) |
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Chapter 4: Applying For and Receiving Your Patent |
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35 | (12) |
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Knowing Who Can Apply for a Patent |
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35 | (3) |
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36 | (1) |
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Choosing a representative |
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37 | (1) |
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Filing for Different Types of Patents |
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38 | (6) |
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Paying attention to the process |
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38 | (2) |
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40 | (2) |
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42 | (1) |
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Filing for a plant patent |
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42 | (1) |
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Filing for a provisional patent |
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43 | (1) |
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Making the Most of a Pending Patent |
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44 | (1) |
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45 | (2) |
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Chapter 5: Maintaining and Defending Your Patent |
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47 | (8) |
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Keeping Current by Paying Your Fees |
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47 | (2) |
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49 | (1) |
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Taking a businesslike view |
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49 | (1) |
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49 | (1) |
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50 | (1) |
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Defending Your Patent Against Infringement |
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50 | (1) |
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51 | (6) |
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Offensive patent insurance |
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52 | (1) |
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Defensive patent insurance |
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53 | (2) |
| Part II: Securing Other Intellectual Property |
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55 | (40) |
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Chapter 6: Trademarks and Trade Secrets |
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57 | (16) |
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57 | (1) |
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Federal versus State Trademarks |
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58 | (2) |
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Using the Trademark and Service Mark Symbols |
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60 | (1) |
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Understanding the Basics for Filing a Federal Trademark Application |
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60 | (7) |
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Having a basis for your application |
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61 | (1) |
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62 | (1) |
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62 | (1) |
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63 | (1) |
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Providing correspondence info for the USPTO |
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63 | (1) |
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64 | (1) |
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Listing goods and services |
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65 | (1) |
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66 | (1) |
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Paying to play - filing fees |
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67 | (1) |
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Filing an Intent-to-Use Application |
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67 | (1) |
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Trade Secrets - Shhhhhhhh! |
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68 | (5) |
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Looking at examples of trade secrets |
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69 | (1) |
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Pondering the pros and cons of trade secrets |
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70 | (1) |
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Protecting your trade secret |
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70 | (3) |
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Chapter 7: Stopping Copycats with a Copyright |
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73 | (16) |
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73 | (1) |
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74 | (1) |
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75 | (6) |
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What works are protected? You took the words out of my mouth |
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76 | (1) |
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What's not protected by copyright |
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76 | (1) |
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Securing copyright protection |
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77 | (3) |
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How long does copyright protection last? |
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80 | (1) |
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Registering Your Copyright |
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81 | (7) |
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Knowing who may file an application |
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82 | (1) |
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Applying for an original registration |
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82 | (1) |
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Renewing your registration |
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83 | (1) |
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Registering unpublished collections |
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84 | (1) |
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Considering special deposit requirements |
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84 | (1) |
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Effective date of registration |
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85 | (1) |
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Correcting and amplifying existing registrations |
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86 | (1) |
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86 | (1) |
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Contacting the Copyright Office |
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87 | (1) |
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88 | (1) |
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Chapter 8: Mum's the Word: Keeping it Confidential |
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89 | (6) |
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Spilling the Beans about the Basics |
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89 | (2) |
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Sharing with the People in Your Life |
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91 | (2) |
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Securing dinner-table talk |
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91 | (1) |
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91 | (1) |
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Zipping your lips at work |
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92 | (1) |
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93 | (1) |
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Running into Someone Who Won't Sign |
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93 | (2) |
| Part III: Developing Your Idea |
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95 | (50) |
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Chapter 9: Prototyping: Making It Work |
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97 | (12) |
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Understanding the Importance of Prototyping |
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97 | (1) |
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98 | (6) |
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Going through the process yourself |
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98 | (2) |
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Hiring a prototype maker to do it for you |
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100 | (3) |
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Prototyping with an existing manufacturer |
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103 | (1) |
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Protecting Your Ideas During the Prototyping Process |
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104 | (1) |
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Cost-Effectively Producing Your Product |
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104 | (5) |
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Meeting product safety standards |
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105 | (1) |
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Developing design control documents |
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105 | (1) |
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Considering graphic design and packaging |
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106 | (1) |
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107 | (1) |
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Choosing the right manufacturing materials |
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107 | (2) |
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Chapter 10: Hiring Helpers and Working with Work-for-Hire Agreements |
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109 | (8) |
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Hiring Professionals to Turn Your Idea into a Reality |
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109 | (3) |
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110 | (1) |
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Arranging for packaging personnel |
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111 | (1) |
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Protecting Your Idea and Your Product |
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112 | (2) |
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Working Out Work-For-Hire Agreements |
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114 | (3) |
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Chapter 11: Evaluating Your Invention's Potential |
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117 | (10) |
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Answering Questions about Viability |
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117 | (2) |
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118 | (1) |
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How will your invention be produced? |
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118 | (1) |
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Will your invention make money? |
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119 | (1) |
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119 | (7) |
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Hiring a professional evaluator |
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120 | (1) |
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121 | (1) |
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Looking at evaluation techniques |
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122 | (1) |
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123 | (3) |
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Maximizing the Results of Your Evaluation |
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126 | (1) |
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Chapter 12: Looking at the Production Process |
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127 | (18) |
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127 | (4) |
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Examining product cycling |
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128 | (1) |
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129 | (2) |
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131 | (6) |
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Figuring out what you need |
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131 | (1) |
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132 | (1) |
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132 | (1) |
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Packaging for profit and protection |
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133 | (1) |
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134 | (2) |
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136 | (1) |
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136 | (1) |
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137 | (3) |
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137 | (2) |
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139 | (1) |
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140 | (2) |
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141 | (1) |
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Judging economies of scale |
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142 | (1) |
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142 | (1) |
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143 | (2) |
| Part IV: Commercializing Your Invention |
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145 | (158) |
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Chapter 13: Developing a Business Plan |
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147 | (26) |
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Realizing that You Need a Business Plan |
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147 | (1) |
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Working Up a Business Plan |
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148 | (2) |
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What your plan can do for you |
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148 | (1) |
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Who should write the plan? |
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149 | (1) |
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Breaking Down Your Business Plan |
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150 | (23) |
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Making your plan look presentable |
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150 | (1) |
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150 | (1) |
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Writing an Executive Summary |
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151 | (1) |
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Putting your research on the market |
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152 | (7) |
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159 | (6) |
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165 | (2) |
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167 | (1) |
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Getting even and getting out |
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168 | (2) |
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Stuff tacked on at the end |
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170 | (3) |
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Chapter 14: Finding Funding |
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173 | (20) |
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Determining How Much and For What |
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174 | (2) |
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Looking at what you need money for |
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175 | (1) |
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Determining how much you need |
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175 | (1) |
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Figuring Out the Types of Financing |
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176 | (3) |
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176 | (2) |
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178 | (1) |
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Seeking Out Sources of Capital |
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179 | (10) |
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The most important source - you! |
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180 | (1) |
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Getting a little help from your friends |
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181 | (1) |
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Going the conventional route with bank loans |
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181 | (1) |
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182 | (1) |
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183 | (1) |
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Acquiring funds though acquisitions - If you can't beat 'em, acquire 'em! |
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184 | (1) |
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Venturing over to venture capitalists |
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184 | (3) |
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Obtaining a government loan |
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187 | (2) |
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Getting Free Money from Your Uncle Sam |
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189 | (4) |
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190 | (1) |
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190 | (3) |
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Chapter 15: Keeping Control with Your Own Business |
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193 | (22) |
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194 | (3) |
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Asking yourself some basic questions |
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194 | (1) |
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195 | (1) |
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Realizing that most small businesses fail |
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196 | (1) |
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197 | (6) |
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Assessing your skills, education, and experience |
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197 | (2) |
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199 | (1) |
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Finding a home for your business |
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200 | (2) |
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Buying business insurance |
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202 | (1) |
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Building a Business Structure |
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203 | (4) |
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Going solo with a sole proprietorship |
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203 | (1) |
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204 | (1) |
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Looking at limited liability companies |
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205 | (1) |
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206 | (1) |
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Adhering to Government Regulations |
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207 | (3) |
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208 | (1) |
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208 | (1) |
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208 | (1) |
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208 | (1) |
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209 | (1) |
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209 | (1) |
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210 | (1) |
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Doing Business with the Federal Government |
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210 | (2) |
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The Prime Contracts Program |
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211 | (1) |
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Subcontracting Assistance Program |
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211 | (1) |
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Certificate of Competency Program |
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212 | (1) |
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Procurement Marketing and Access Network |
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212 | (1) |
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Making Use of Contacts and Sources of Assistance |
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212 | (3) |
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Chapter 16: Partnering and Manufacturing Arrangements |
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215 | (12) |
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Paying and Partnering Arrangements |
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215 | (3) |
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Contracting out or joining up |
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216 | (1) |
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217 | (1) |
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Teaming Up with a Manufacturer |
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218 | (5) |
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Locating potential manufacturers |
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218 | (1) |
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219 | (2) |
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Examining the manufacturer's track record |
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221 | (1) |
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221 | (2) |
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223 | (4) |
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Matching up with the right foreign partner |
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223 | (1) |
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Issues to consider when partnering abroad |
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224 | (3) |
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Chapter 17: Preparing to Take Your Invention to Market |
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227 | (18) |
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Discovering What You Need to Know |
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227 | (6) |
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Finding out about your customers |
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228 | (1) |
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Keeping up with the competition |
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229 | (1) |
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Packaging for appeal and profit |
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230 | (1) |
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Pricing your product to sell |
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231 | (2) |
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233 | (12) |
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Defining the opportunity or problem |
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235 | (1) |
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Setting objectives, budgets, and timetables |
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235 | (1) |
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Selecting research types, methods, and techniques |
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236 | (1) |
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Designing research instruments |
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237 | (5) |
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Organizing and analyzing the data |
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242 | (3) |
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Chapter 18: Marketing Your Product |
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245 | (16) |
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Developing Your Market Strategy |
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245 | (14) |
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247 | (1) |
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248 | (1) |
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Making sales presentations |
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249 | (1) |
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250 | (4) |
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Getting your product and customers together |
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254 | (2) |
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Steering clear of invention promotion companies |
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256 | (3) |
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Evaluating Your Ongoing Progress |
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259 | (2) |
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Chapter 19: Advertising Your Product |
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261 | (14) |
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Exploring Advertising Basics |
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261 | (1) |
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Designing Your Advertising Campaign |
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262 | (5) |
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263 | (1) |
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263 | (1) |
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Choosing the best media for your message |
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264 | (1) |
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Setting objectives and measuring results |
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265 | (1) |
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266 | (1) |
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Supplementing Your Regular Advertising |
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267 | (5) |
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268 | (1) |
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269 | (2) |
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Working up some free publicity |
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271 | (1) |
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Looking At a Few Tricks of the Trade |
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272 | (3) |
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Chapter 20: Licensing Your Product |
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275 | (14) |
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275 | (2) |
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276 | (1) |
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Weighing the pros and cons |
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276 | (1) |
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277 | (4) |
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Locating potential licensees |
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278 | (1) |
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Considering potential licensees |
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279 | (2) |
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Getting in Touch with Your Potentials |
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281 | (2) |
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Gathering the materials you need |
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281 | (1) |
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Making your way to making your pitch |
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282 | (1) |
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Considering the company's side |
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282 | (1) |
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283 | (2) |
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Examining Types of Licensing Agreements |
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285 | (3) |
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285 | (1) |
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Opening up to nonexclusive agreements |
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286 | (2) |
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Taking Care of Foreign Licensing |
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288 | (1) |
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Chapter 21: Negotiating a License |
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289 | (14) |
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Employing the Art of Negotiation |
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289 | (7) |
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Submitting to an evaluation |
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290 | (1) |
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291 | (2) |
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293 | (1) |
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Regarding your bargaining position |
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294 | (1) |
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295 | (1) |
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Estimating Your Invention's Value |
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296 | (1) |
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Contemplating Compensation |
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297 | (8) |
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Getting reimbursed upfront |
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298 | (1) |
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Getting bucks no matter what |
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298 | (2) |
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Researching royalty rates |
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300 | (3) |
| Part V: The Part of Tens |
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303 | (22) |
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Chapter 22: Ten Key Contacts |
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305 | (6) |
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Evaluation Services for Your Invention |
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305 | (2) |
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Innovative Product Technologies, Inc |
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305 | (1) |
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Wisconsin Innovation Service Center |
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306 | (1) |
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The Innovation Institute and the WIN Evaluation Center |
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306 | (1) |
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The Federal Trade Commission |
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307 | (1) |
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Inventors' Digest Magazine |
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307 | (1) |
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The Library of Congress Copyright Office |
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307 | (1) |
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National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) |
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308 | (1) |
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Small Business Development Center Program |
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308 | (1) |
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Toy Industries Association |
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309 | (1) |
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United Inventors Association |
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309 | (1) |
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The United States Patent and Trademark Office |
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310 | (1) |
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Small Business Administration |
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310 | (1) |
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Chapter 23: Ten Inventions (and Inventors) That Changed the World |
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311 | (6) |
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Cottoning On to Eli Whitney |
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311 | (1) |
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Meeting Metal Man Henry Bessemer |
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312 | (1) |
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Reaping with Cyrus Hall McCormick |
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312 | (1) |
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Sterilizing and Louis Pasteur |
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312 | (1) |
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Calling Alexander Graham Bell |
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313 | (1) |
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Cooling Off with Willis Haviland Carrier |
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313 | (1) |
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Flying High with the Wright Brothers |
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314 | (1) |
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314 | (1) |
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314 | (1) |
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Plugging In to Steve Wozniak |
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315 | (2) |
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Chapter 24: Ten Inventors to Emulate |
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317 | (8) |
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317 | (1) |
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318 | (1) |
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319 | (1) |
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319 | (1) |
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Dr. Marcian E. (Ted) Hoff |
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320 | (1) |
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320 | (1) |
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321 | (1) |
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322 | (1) |
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322 | (1) |
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323 | (2) |
| Part VI: Appendixes |
|
325 | (18) |
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Appendix A: Sample Agreements |
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327 | (10) |
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Appendix B: Online Resources |
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337 | (6) |
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USPTO and Related International Links |
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337 | (1) |
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Important Links for Copyrights |
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338 | (1) |
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Domain Name-Related Links |
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338 | (1) |
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339 | (1) |
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Other Important Legal, International, and Organizational Links |
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340 | (1) |
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News, Search, Manufacturers, and Law Associations-Related Links |
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341 | (1) |
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Additional Government Resources |
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342 | (1) |
| Index |
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343 | |
Other versions by this Author