I get questions from inventors all the time. The most common sounds like this: Id like to move several ideas I have forward. Any suggestions?

While this is way too broad for a specific plan, here are some generalities I can suggest. I have another article entitled Everyones Marketing Plan which is a follow up to this. Want a copy of this? Just write your request and send to Jeff Dobkin, P.O. Box 100, Merion Station PA 19066. Better yet, for fastest service write that on a twenty. OK, just kidding. Make that a ten.

What? Hey, I gotta eat too. If this is too much money for you, send a note from your accountant and Ill send it for free.

1. Inventors beware. A lot of bad guys are out there. If a firm says your idea is the greatest thing since sliced bread and wants to market it, make sure you ask how many inventors they have helped and have actually brought in more in sales and more $$$ than they charged the inventor. Get the exact, specific percentage and the number. If they fudge, or don't answer - don't call back - theyre one of the bad guys.

Invention companies seem reputable because they dont want to steal your idea, and they tell you that. Oh, dont tell me your idea - wait till I send you a nondisclosure form! Its true, they dont want your idea. They just want your money. But, they dont tell you that. Yea, thats the part they always seem to leave out.

The unscrupulous invention marketing firms were so good at fleecing unsuspecting inventors, specific laws were passed just for them. In fact, here are the questions the American Inventors Protection Act of 1999 (public Law 106-113) states you should ask and the invention promoter must answer:

This is for YOUR protection. Here is the specific bill:

This subtitle may be cited as the Inventors Rights

Act of 1999.

SEC. 4102. INTEGRITY IN INVENTION PROMOTION SERVICES.

(a) IN GENERAL

Chapter 29 of title 35, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 297. Improper and deceptive invention promotion

(a) IN GENERAL

An invention promoter shall have a duty to disclose the following information to a customer in writing, prior to entering into a contract for invention promotion services:

(1) the total number of inventions evaluated by the invention promoter for commercial potential in the past 5 years, as well as the number of those inventions that received positive evaluations, and the number of those inventions that received negative evaluations;

(2) the total number of customers who have contracted with the invention promoter in the past 5 years, not including customers who have purchased trade show services, research, advertising, or other nonmarketing services from the invention promoter, or who have defaulted in their payment to the invention promoter;

(3) the total number of customers known by the invention promoter to have received a net financial profit as a direct result of the invention promotion services provided by such invention promoter;