Expert: George H. Morgan, P.E., Patent Agent - 12/8/2010

Question
QUESTION: I have a provisional patent and am in the process of filing the utility patent.I am so lost on what to do next. Do I need a Chinese patent in order to manufacture there at a much cheaper rate. Do I license it and how to I find the right people or have it marketed I have googled so many things and I seem to always end up with someone who doesn't know much but wants a percentage , I am very discouraged at all of the scam artist and just want to deal with people who are honest and can help me get it out there no matter which route that is My patent will revolutionize the billion dollar home jewelry industry and open it up to many people who were unable to participate before Please help signed Tired in Texas

ANSWER: You do not need a Chinese patent to have it manufactured in China. However, the Chinese could also make it for themselves & sell in all countries you do not have a patent in.

My website has a list of helpful texts you can get from your public library, especially "Patent It Yourself" by David Pressman.

http://www.evansville.net.biz/patagent

My web site also has an inventors resources page, with a link to the Ron Riley Caution list of doubtful companies, such as the invention marketing companies that advertise on TV, such as, but not restricted to Davison, Invention Submission Corp. & InventHelp (same outfit) & many others.

Hope that helps.

Best wishes.

George H. Morgan
Professional Engineer
Patent Agent





---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you. I did spend quite a bit of time on your site last night and reviewing your previous questions. I was very appreciative of the information there. Is there a list somewhere of reputable patent agencies in China I understand to patent there I will have to appoint a POA there Do you know the limit of power I must assign? The cost for a patent agent in China or what I would expect to receive in service from them as far as their duties. China is the number one exporter of the unimproved version of my patent, even the US manufacturer I have talked to here to get a prototype made is farming it out to them How would I find a list of reputable Chinese manufactures if the US manufacture adds too much to the cost. I will use US as long as they don't try to add more than I believe is a fair profit margin considering China sells the unimproved unit for around 1 cent, and I am responsible for shipping either way

Answer
You are looking at $10/20 thousand dollars, as a "guestimate" & last time I checked, some $2,000/yr maintenance fees. So, I never pursued it further for any of my clients.

My recommendation is just go for a U.S. Patent, which precludes the Chinese manufacturer for shipping it into the U.S.

If it were me, I would engage Mr. Gerald Black, of Livonia, Michigan to handle it for me. I have known him some 15 years or so, and he is very good on getting patents in countries around the world.  You can find his contact info on the uspto.gov web sight. I am having trouble with my usual email approaches, and had to fall back on my "dial up" connection, and it does not have my address book hand.

I don't do foreign stuff as the U.S. market is so very big and we have the most inventor friendly patent office in the world.  Also, in China, India, and Russia, enforcement is a problem.

Hope that helps.

George H. Morgan