I have a great new invention to use for teaching tennis. I have been using my prototyps and have had wonderful success with them. I really want to get a patent on this item and got involved with Patent Assistance Worldwide. They started off being very helpful and positive yet I felt somthing was not right with the amounts of money they were asking for and their inablity to answer some of my questions about their company. I am not sure how to go through all the steps in the process on my own. Can you recomend a trust worthy company near north east ohio that could help me? My wife and I watch the "BigIdea" every night and we are sure we have the next big idea for tennis instructon and we need help to get it off the ground.
Thanks so much for you time and help in this matter!
Sincerely,Dragan

Have you contacted or joined any Ohio _base_d inventor organizations? There are 4 local groups,in Dayton, Youngstown, Cleveland and Cinncinatti. Those are a good place to get a referral from the email adress of the group, and there are patent attornies that belong to the group and will treat you right.

Be aware that your patent application will be published in 18 months, so be ready to enter the market before then.

A provional is often an inexpensve option you can write and file yourself if you have to conserve risk capital. That gives you a year to do your market research.

It is generally a good idea to have the invention developed to the point that the prototype is very close to the final manufactured product.

Also always check companies out with the Better Business Bureau to see if there are excessive complaints. ALso, when you join a local inventors club, ask other inventors who they have used to help them develop their product. It is like asking your neighbor who they used to fix their AC. If they had a great experience it will make you more comrfortable about using them....JIm

I have a new fitness product I am wanting to bring to market and have been approaced by Media Corp and Millenium Marketing amongest a few others....Does anyone have any knowledge or history about these companies who want to HELP...by either offering a joint venture program to either find licensing or produce a DRTV and buy media time....etc.....any insight into any of these or other marketing companies would be appreciated.

Hi -

There are a few seemingly reputable direct response (infomercial companies) such as All-Star marketing. If they accept your product for TV, they will pay for everything including the airtime. Granted, they will make most of the money from your product sales and will enjoy other exclusive rights such as the ability to sell to major retailers, etc so before you jump at these opportunities you may want to read the fine print before you sign a deal if accepted. Jim

Hi -

There are a few seemingly reputable direct response (infomercial companies) such as All-Star marketing. If they accept your product for TV, they will pay for everything including the airtime. Granted, they will make most of the money from your product sales and will enjoy other exclusive rights such as the ability to sell to major retailers, etc so before you jump at these opportunities you may want to read the fine print before you sign a deal if accepted. Jim