Yankton area inventors invited to discussion
Representatives of the Enterprise Institute and the Independent Inventor Institute, allied agencies that help new business ideas get started in South Dakota, invited people in the Yankton area to learn more about intellectual property July 27 at the Event Center, 214 Walnut St., Yankton.
Jared Clark , Director of Search Services for the Independent Inventor Institute, described what is needed for an idea to be patented or trademarked. Vonnie Barnett, Enterprise Institute Assistant Director of Economic Intelligence, was also there to answer questions. Light refreshments were served.
Independent inventors can get lost in today's world of inventing that is often directed and funded by corporations. The individual inventor encounters difficulties finding manufacturers and investors interested in new products. Government patent and trademark filing fees are higher than ever before.
Before anyone, individual or corporation, can successfully launch a new product, their interests must be protected. Without a patent, inventors are subject to others who might freely use or produce their idea.
Even if an inventor is not interested in acquiring a patent, he or she must know about those who hold registered patents. Infringing on patented inventions can be costly. Violators must stop selling and producing a device if they are found to be truly infringing on an existing patent. So it is important for inventors to protect their ideas.
The Independent Inventor Institute is a non-profit corporation, formed by the Enterprise Institute in 2002 to offer South Dakotans intellectual property, or patent and trademark, advice.
Searches are made by the Independent Inventor Institute of existing patents to help inventors decide if applying for a patent is feasible and to provide information for further invention development.
Currently, the agency offers legal patent opinions through partner law firms. These firms are also able to assist inventors should they choose to pursue a patent.
More information on the Independent Inventor Institute can be found at www.sdiii.org or by calling 605.696.7878.