WorkOne for Entrepreneurs-Part 4, WorkOne

To wrap up my mini series on WorkOne for Entrepreneurs, I want to touch on "Patents and Trademarks". I get a lot of questions on this topic, but a recent story about a gentleman with an idea and the path that he is on becauce of the unknowns about how to patent his idea, is what prompted this discussion.

First, I would encourage you to NOT call the number on your television screen that shares an animated graphic of a caveman making a wheel out of stone. I know you feel as though you have the next multi-million dollar idea in your head (and you might!), but don't be afraid to ASK for help and guidance. We hear, "You have to spend money to make money." And that is a true statement in a lot of situations. But when you are in a beginning idea stage, there truly are people and organizations out there who will help and guide you for free…really.

In my research on this topic, I found that every step that could take you to becoming a successful "patent-eur" and trademark owner can be found at http://www.uspto.gov/ for free. But, I do want you to know that I found out that there comes a point in time in this process that you will spend some money. And that will be on a professionally licensed attorney who will file your final patent for you. I also found out that not just any attorney can do this for you. Attornies have to be certified in this area. There is a list on the USPTO.gov web site of licensed attorneys or, for more local information, call the Small Business Deveopment Center in your area. I will also put these resources, along with others, in the entrepreneur section of Work-One.org.

Now, I do realize that it is not natural that everyone runs to the internet whenever they have a question like I do. If you are not a researcher or don't have the time, again, visit my good friends at your nearest Small Business Development Center (ISBDC.org). You will speak with someone whose job it is to help you. You will walk out of your free appointment with armloads of information and real direction of what you need to do next. Do you know how much taking the guess work out of doing something new and unknown is? Priceless.

Before I conclude, I want to encourage those of you with an idea or a new business to reach out. Reach out to the SBDC. Reach out to a networking group. Don't do this alone. Don't be afraid that someone is going to steal your idea.

I realize that you are taking that next big step to becoming independent from a "boss" and you want to be your own "boss". But, take a look at your current boss…he/she doesn't do everything by him/herself. They have a board of directors and a management team in place for a reason.

The resources I have posted on the Work-One.org web site are reputable organizations in our region and the people who work there are reputable people who are there to help you…really…I mean it…it's true.

http://www.uspto.gov/smallbusiness/patents/

http://www.stopfakes.gov/sf_who.asp

http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinessplanner/start/protectyourideas/index.html

http://uspto.gov/smallbusiness/patents/filing.html

http://www.business.gov/guides/business-law/intellectual-property/

http://www.uspto.gov/smallbusiness/

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Tracy Dishman is the marketing director for WorkOne and Eastern Indiana Regional Workforce Board (EIRWB). Readers may write to Dishman at P.O. Box 1856, Muncie, Indiana 47308-1856 or tdishman@work-one.org.