Im INVENTING SOMETHIG and I have questions?

[tanishia]

ok so im inveting a device that lol jk I wouldnt speak of what it does on the internet anyway this would be something like involving a sign and lets say LED lights anyway I want
-a Trademark for what the sign will say it will be like this long "oops open spell checker misspellinged" about that many worlds
-a Patent for the sign
how much money would I need to start including costs of
-Making prototype
-Getting Patent/TradeMark
-Paying to mass product my product which would sell for like 15 to 20 bucks
-Paying for a TV add like those 19.99 ads for like 30 secs for like a few times
How do I protect myself from being eaten by big companies? Is it wise to join a big company or corporation?

Can I trust INVENT HELP before I get my patent?
THANK YOU SO MUCH
if this ever sold Id so be greatful and who knows maybe even repay this help but no promises hehe im not even close to that yet :p

[amdt57]

I agree that you should check out the libarary and the US patent office website.

However, I will warn you that:

(a) the real process is very expensive and difficult. The usual cost is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars (no, that is not a joke) and millions of dollars is not uncommon. A patent, in particular, is not a tool for the small time inventor just trying to make a go of it. Most of the time, it takes a lawyer to figure out if what you "invented" actually can be patented. Not everything can be patented...in fact, most things can NOT be.

(b) the marketplace is full of people and companies that will tell you stories and rip you off.

[kenway]

Go to your bookstore or library and grab the best book you can find.
The lady that created Spanx did most of the work upfront saving her almost 100K.
She just needed the lawyer at the end....