I've just seen an analysis by the IPKat website of Firefox Inventor and its invention competition and it makes interesting reading. It consists of comments interspersed in the text.
From time to time I am asked by private inventors about invention promotion companies -- the kind that offer to assist with commercialisation in return for, typically, upfront fees and a percentage of profits.
I would suggest caution when considering such offers. The contracts they put forward should be studied with care. One I looked at recently placed numerous, carefully worded obligations on the inventor and only vague obligations on the company, and said that the contract ended only if both parties agreed (so the inventor was unable to get out of it without the company's agreement). I've seen identically vague but enthusiastic wording about a variety of products from a number of such promoters -- surely some products aren't destined for huge sales ?
The UK IPO offers a Step-by-Step guide to using invention promoters. I would strongly endorse their suggestion that you get legal advice before entering into a contract.
For the USA, there is a vast amount of comment, including the list of complaints about specific companies from the US Patent and Trademark Office, and there is a useful-looking Federal Trade Commission site.
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