Resources for Inventors

General Invention and Intellectual Property Information (all fees are approximate).

Patents: Search, $600 and up.
Application: $2,500 and up, depending upon complexity of design, number of drawings, etc.
Copyrights: Application $100.
Trademarks: Application $550, including $245 government fee

Download Confidentiality Form (.pdf)

Information used by permission from:
Minnesota Inventors Congress
http://inventhelper.org/b-index.html

Minnesota Cup competition showcases 'breakthrough business ideas'
http://breakthroughideas.org

Kid’s Inventor Resources
http:/www.uspto.gov/go/kids/

Business & Finance Links:

New Davincis. Low cost website to help inventors sell product. http://www.newdavincis.com

Shop 4 Patents. Patents for sale, licensing and patent related services. http://www.shop4patents.com

Inventors Blog. http://www.patenthelpblog.com

3d Cad Models. http://www.innovationsin3d.com

Minnesota Project Innovation. Small business innovation research grants, technology database searches, and business development. 111 3rd Avenue S., Ste. 100, Minneapolis, MN 55401-2551, Phone: 651-297-1192 or 1-800-657-3858 • Fax: 651-215-3841, Web Site: www.deed.state.mn.us

• Minnesota Small Business Assistance Office. Provides information and assistance to Minnesota businesses in areas of start-up, operation, or expansion. Emphasis is placed on business planning and regulatory assistance. 500 Metro Square Building, 121 7th Place E., St. Paul, MN 55101-2146, Tel: 651-282-2103, or 1-800-652-3858, Web Site: http://www.sba.gov
  
• Minnesota Small Business Development Centers. SBDC’s provide counseling & training at no charge to small business owners and prospective small business owners in areas like business planning, financial analysis, marketing assistance, and technology transfer. State Office, 500 Metro Square Building, 121 7th Place E., St. Paul, MN 55101-2146, Tel: 651-297-5770, or 1-800-657-3858, Fax: 651-296-1290, Web Information: www.dted.state.mn.us Click “Business” then “Technical Assistance”
  
• Regional Development Commission . Determine appropriate public financing, prepare business plans and loan packages for business and industry. Appleton 320-289-1981, or 1-800-752-1983, Bemidji 218-444-4732, Duluth 218-722-5545, or 1-800-232-0707, Mankato 507-387-5643, or 1-800-450-5643, Mora 320-679-4065, Slayton 507-836-8547, Staples 218-894-3233, Warren 218-745-6733, Willmar 320-235-8504, or 1-800-450-8608
  
• SCORE Counselors to America's Small Business, Business process and patent assistance. SCORE District Office, SBA, 210-C Butler Square Bldg., 100 North Sixth St., Minneapolis, MN 55403, Tel: 612-370-2324 to get information about a SCORE Office in your local area, or call the National SCORE Office in Washington, DC, 1-800-634-0245, Web Site: www.score.org
  
• U.S. Small Business Administration. Business planning, development financing and procurement assistance. 210-C Butler Square, 100 North 6th St., Minneapolis, MN 55403, 612-370-2324.

Patent and Intellectual Property (IP) Protection Links:

U.S. Department of Commerce, Patent & Trademark Office , Washington, D.C. 20231, Tel: 1-800-786-9199, Web Site: www.uspto.gov

USPTO Inventor’s Resources
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/iip/

Patent Attorney Referral Service , Minnesota State Bar Association, 514 Nicollet Ave., Ste. 300, Minneapolis, MN 55402, 1-800-292-4152, Hennepin County 612-339-8777, Ramsey County 651-224-1775, Dakota County 612-431-3200, Washington County 651-777-6878.

Patent Depository Library. Patent search. A free class is held every other Friday at 11:15 a.m., Science & Technology Dept., 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55401, Tel: 612-372-6500, or 612-372-6570.

Marketing, Research and Business Development

ACIL
Members are third-party commercial engineering & scientific testing laboratories offering analytical testing, R&D, & consulting services to industry, commerce, & government. Referral service of laboratories to do independent testing of new products. 1629 K Street NW, Ste. 400, Washington, DC 20006, Tel: 202-877-5872, Fax: 202-887-0021; E-Mail: acil@ix.netcom.com, Web Site: www.acil.org

Sunrise Packaging, Inc.
http://www.sunpack.com

Market Research- The James Jerome Hill Reference Library
A privately supported, non-profit business and economics library emphasizing information for small businesses. 80 West 4th Street, St. Paul, MN 55102, Tel: 651-227-9531, Fax: 651-222-4139
E-Mail: info@jjhill.org, Web Site: www.jjhill.org

Marketing & Website Design-
Clearsite.tv (marketing, and website design)