I recently filed a Provisional Patent Application for a new kind of assault rifle that I'm pitching to ARDEC, and I am currently seeking funding to develop the idea into licensable IP and a fully functioning prototype.
While the project is still confidential, the question to you, however, is what is the best way to go from a raw concept in a 22 page 'Unsolicited Proposal', which includes a copy of the Provisional Patent Application.... to actually making money off the idea?
In short, I have absolutely no experience with anything like this - either from a manufacturing standpoint, or a licensing standpoint... and despite the company name, I don't have any experience in the firearm industry, or the Military, either... other than I grew up hunting and shooting like most of you folks in here.
That said, I have shown the document to a PA State Trooper, a special ops Marine (now contractor) and his associates, and a Navy serviceman - and all were extremely positive, with one LEO even asking me if I had a prototype they could demo (which I don't). So as far fetched as it sounds, I think I designed a new weapon, and the few people I showed it to that might use it in the field actually liked it.
So since I'm not able to disclose anything {snip}, I'm hoping you all can just humor me, and for the sake of this discussion, just focus on how a normal Joe might go about taking his idea on paper and turn it into dollar bills. If we can stay focused on this aspect, and not my invention, others with the same questions can use this thread as a reference. So to start, let me tell you at least what I'm thinking, and thank you for your comments in advance, then maybe you can help me figure out my options...
Right now, the idea is only in the form of a Provisional Patent Application (PPA). I have no real money to put towards developing the idea much further. I have been told to seek feedback from a manufacturer, after getting them to sign my NDA, but before I file a Non-provisional Utility Patent Application or even begin to create a prototype. The reasoning behind this is that manufacturers usually want you to tweak something, which means you will have to file another patent to protect the refined idea, which will cost more money and time.
This makes sense to me. However, taking my little PPA and NDA to a 'Beretta' or a 'S&W', with a team of lawyers, scares the heck out of me. These companies have huge resources they could leverage to get around anything I could come up with myself, although the two IP Lawyers I showed it to thought I did a good job in writing up the application.
The other thought was NOT taking it to a manufacturer and instead just submitting the proposal (without a great financial section) to the ARMY and see if they are just interested in the idea. Despite the new functionality I developed, the manufacturing technology is totally conventional - nothing new or special required. In other words, get a basic range quote and just say, 'if you like it, then I can get you firmer quotes'. (ARDEC promises an acknowledgement of receipt within 10 days, and a non-committing letter saying whether they are interested in speaking with me further within 90 days.)
As to what ARDEC might say if they are interested in talking with me further is unknown. From what I understand, they can offer certain kinds of assistance, including facilities, etc. But the reality is, I'm way out of my league here and I think if they are interested then my next goal is to go after a mega manufacturing partner and try to license the technology for them to develop and just send me a quarterly check. As far as exclusive, vs non-exclusive, or whether I try to come up with 2-3 different versions and then grant exclusive rights to develop a given model, I dont really know.
I also am wondering if I should develop a prototype before approaching a manufacturer. Normally I would think this might be a good idea, but right now I see this as being a big waste of money, since I doubt a Beretta would actually use any of my blueprints - they would just start from scratch with the concept.
The last thought was to bring it to a smaller defense manufacturer and try to get them to take the project from concept to production, but one look at the heizer firearms site shows you how messed up things can get before you ever even produce a single gun.
Anyway, this is where I'm at today. Any thoughts and feedback are welcome and appreciated.
While the project is still confidential, the question to you, however, is what is the best way to go from a raw concept in a 22 page 'Unsolicited Proposal', which includes a copy of the Provisional Patent Application.... to actually making money off the idea?
In short, I have absolutely no experience with anything like this - either from a manufacturing standpoint, or a licensing standpoint... and despite the company name, I don't have any experience in the firearm industry, or the Military, either... other than I grew up hunting and shooting like most of you folks in here.
That said, I have shown the document to a PA State Trooper, a special ops Marine (now contractor) and his associates, and a Navy serviceman - and all were extremely positive, with one LEO even asking me if I had a prototype they could demo (which I don't). So as far fetched as it sounds, I think I designed a new weapon, and the few people I showed it to that might use it in the field actually liked it.
So since I'm not able to disclose anything {snip}, I'm hoping you all can just humor me, and for the sake of this discussion, just focus on how a normal Joe might go about taking his idea on paper and turn it into dollar bills. If we can stay focused on this aspect, and not my invention, others with the same questions can use this thread as a reference. So to start, let me tell you at least what I'm thinking, and thank you for your comments in advance, then maybe you can help me figure out my options...
Right now, the idea is only in the form of a Provisional Patent Application (PPA). I have no real money to put towards developing the idea much further. I have been told to seek feedback from a manufacturer, after getting them to sign my NDA, but before I file a Non-provisional Utility Patent Application or even begin to create a prototype. The reasoning behind this is that manufacturers usually want you to tweak something, which means you will have to file another patent to protect the refined idea, which will cost more money and time.
This makes sense to me. However, taking my little PPA and NDA to a 'Beretta' or a 'S&W', with a team of lawyers, scares the heck out of me. These companies have huge resources they could leverage to get around anything I could come up with myself, although the two IP Lawyers I showed it to thought I did a good job in writing up the application.
The other thought was NOT taking it to a manufacturer and instead just submitting the proposal (without a great financial section) to the ARMY and see if they are just interested in the idea. Despite the new functionality I developed, the manufacturing technology is totally conventional - nothing new or special required. In other words, get a basic range quote and just say, 'if you like it, then I can get you firmer quotes'. (ARDEC promises an acknowledgement of receipt within 10 days, and a non-committing letter saying whether they are interested in speaking with me further within 90 days.)
As to what ARDEC might say if they are interested in talking with me further is unknown. From what I understand, they can offer certain kinds of assistance, including facilities, etc. But the reality is, I'm way out of my league here and I think if they are interested then my next goal is to go after a mega manufacturing partner and try to license the technology for them to develop and just send me a quarterly check. As far as exclusive, vs non-exclusive, or whether I try to come up with 2-3 different versions and then grant exclusive rights to develop a given model, I dont really know.
I also am wondering if I should develop a prototype before approaching a manufacturer. Normally I would think this might be a good idea, but right now I see this as being a big waste of money, since I doubt a Beretta would actually use any of my blueprints - they would just start from scratch with the concept.
The last thought was to bring it to a smaller defense manufacturer and try to get them to take the project from concept to production, but one look at the heizer firearms site shows you how messed up things can get before you ever even produce a single gun.
Anyway, this is where I'm at today. Any thoughts and feedback are welcome and appreciated.
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