Is there anything new under the sun? Heres how to find out if your bright idea is unique.

"There's nothing new under the sun" is probably the one phrase no inventor wants to hear, seldom believes, and is always trying to prove wrong.

However, moving too quickly to prototype stage and first disclosure can turn out to be costly for the inventor who doesn't take the time to find out if his or her invention is already patented.

Yet, with over 3000 utility patents being issued each week in the United States, that can seem like a daunting if not downright impossible task.

So, what can the inventor do to get the information ? and assurance ? he needs to proceed with his work?

The first thing to do is conduct a preliminary search of patents at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Public Patent Search Room, which contains U.S. patents arranged according to the U.S. Patent Classification System of over 460 classes and over 136,000 subclasses. The Patent Search Room, located in Arlington, Virginia, is open to the public from 8 AM to 8 PM, Monday to Friday, except on federal holidays.

If you don't live near Arlington, you don't need to make travel reservations. Instead, you can access the searchable database containing patent information for all U.S. patents granted since 1976 and all patent application publications (first published in March 2001), on the USPTO web site at http://www.uspto.gov/go/pats.

Inventors can also perform a preliminary search of patents at one of the Patent and Trademark Depository Libraries (PTDLs) established throughout the United States. These libraries have copies of patents in microfilm and/or optical disc format arranged in numerical order. They have classification search tools, automated search aids, and photocopy facilities available to the public. For information on your nearest PTDL, you may visit the PTDL web site at http://www.uspto.gov/go/ptdl.

Another option is to use specialized software like Patent Hunter?, a program which is designed to simplify the search process and to allow you to conduct a more complete search. For information about Patent Hunter, go to www.patenthunter.com.

You can also have a patent attorney or agent conduct a complete search for you. If you do not yet know a patent attorney or agent and would like to retain one, there are several ways to do so.

If you are a member of an inventors' organization, networking with other inventors to learn which attorneys in your area get rave reviews can be one of the easiest and most effective ways to find good counsel. And, if you don't find using the Yellow Pages appealing, you might also want to contact your state the law association for a list of attorneys practicing IP law. Finally, if you choose to conduct an internet search, you will want to check out the USPTO listing of registered patent attorneys aand agents by going to http://www.uspto.gov/do/oed,.

Whatever method you use to verify that your invention is unique and hasn't been patented, acting early in the invention process can save you significant time and money. Or, if you discover someone already holds the patent, reviewing their design may inspire your creativity and lead you to add some "bells and whistles" that takes the idea to the "next level" and allows you to secure a patent on a superior product.

© 2004. All rights reserved. Impact Coaching International? You may copy or distribute this article free of charge as long as it is kept intact and sent in its entirety including copyright notice and full information about contacting the author, Rosemary Hauschild.

Rosemary Hauschild is a business coach serving creative individuals developing intellectual property. Impact Coaching International? offers a year-long program showing creative individuals how to protect, promote and profit from their innovative ideas in less time and with more profits. This coaching program is delivered through quarterly workshops, teleconference calls, web casts, fax and email. Individual coaching services are also available. To learn more about how to protect and promote your intellectual property, you are invited to subscribe to the free e-zine, Creations Of The Mind?, by sending an email to impactcoaching@msn.com with the following phrase in the subject line of your e-mail: subscribe creations list.

---

Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

Double Your Sales Potential With Double-sided Business Cards

Swapping business cards is one of the most basic and... Read More

Business Ideas: 5 Uncommon Ways To Generate More Online Business

Sometimes, it is not an obvious business idea that will... Read More

Avoid The Big Advertising Mistakes

Is your advertising copy getting the results you want? If... Read More

Non-profit Coupon Books and Coupon Mailers for Small Businesses

Many groups like the Chamber of Commerce, ASB at the... Read More

Whats The Frequency?

The more things change, some say, the more things stay... Read More

Custom T-shirts -- Put Your Company Logo on Cotton!

An effective way to gain company recognition is to order... Read More

Information Gathering & Delivery May Never Be The Same!

Give Us The Bottom Line!If you are like most people,... Read More

Become a Storyteller Not an Advertiser and Watch Your Traffic Increase

When you read the newspaper, do you read advertisements as... Read More

The Truth in Advertising

Most of us have seen at least a dozen different... Read More

Electronic Display Signs

Electronic display signs are used nowadays in great extent to... Read More

Unlock The Power Of Online Groups

Yahoo Groups: I see countless marketers on shoestring budges turn... Read More

Advertising That Annoys: The Real Story

Critics conclude that entertaining or "creative" commercials sell better than... Read More

Advertising - Does it Matter?

When advertising, you need to sell your opportunity, your products... Read More

How To Tame The Buying Beast Inside Your Customer

What if you can understand and control your customer's mind?... Read More

Yellow Page Advertisers: Your Calls are Going to Decrease - Heres the Remedy

Response rates to Yellow Page advertising are decliningThere's no getting... Read More

The Benefits of Specific Advertising

The great Claude Hopkins (Author of Scientific Advertising) once said,... Read More

The Man With The Grasshopper Mind

The title of this article also happens to be one... Read More

Never Be Caught Cardless Again: Five Tips to Help You Remember Business Cards

Sorry, I Don't Seem to Have a Business Card With... Read More

Media Savvy - How To Manage Your Time To Gain The Best Media Coverage

Did you know generating positive media coverage is four times... Read More

10 Simple Techniques To Make Your Ad Get Powerful Attention

1. Make your ad's keywords and phrases standout by enlarging... Read More

3 Simple Steps to Getting Thousands in Free Advertising

Many entrepreneurs believe that they understand what public relations is,... Read More

Reach vs. Frequency: Touch 100 Once or 25 Four Times?

Reach and frequency are terms generally used when planning advertising... Read More

The Skinny on Billboards

Several years back the billboard people put a big picture... Read More

Five Characteristics of Highly Successful Advertising

Have you ever spent a small fortune on advertising that... Read More

Ten Ways To Sell Advertising Space Fast

1. Give your customers a discount when they spend over... Read More