Here below are some useful websites and books that can help you better understand patents, inventing, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets.
Websites to Search Patents:
- http://www.google.com/patents
- http://patft.uspto.gov/ [this website is wealth of information!]
- http://www.freepatentsonline.com/
Websites of Interest:
- http://inventors.about.com/od/firststeps/Inventing_101_For_Beginners.htm
- http://www.triz-journal.com/whatistriz.htm
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright
- http://ogc.arizona.edu/files/what_are_copyrights.pdf
- http://www.uspto.gov/inventors/trademarks.jsp
- http://www.wipo.int/sme/en/ip_business/trade_secrets/trade_secrets.htm
Books:
- Dematteis, Bob; “From Patent To Profit: Secrets & Strategies For The Successful Inventor”, Third Edition; Square One Publishers, 2005.
- Docie, Ronald Louis; “The Inventor’s Bible: How to Market and License Your Brilliant Ideas (3rd Edition)”; Ten Speed Press, 2010.
- Foreman, Louis and Welytok, Jill Gilbert; “The Independent Inventor’s Handbook: The Best Advice from Idea to Payoff”; Workman Publishing Company, 2009.
- Kracke, Don; “Turn Your Idea or Invention into Millions”; Allworth Press, 2001.
- Levy, Richard C.; “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Cashing in On Your Inventions” (2nd Edition); Alpha Books, 2010.
- Pressman, David and Stim, Richard; “ Patents for Beginners “(6th Ed); Nolo Press, 2009.
- Reese, Harvey; “How to License Your Million Dollar Idea: Everything You Need To Know To Turn a Simple Idea into a Million Dollar Payday”; Wiley, 2002.
- Stim, Richard; “Profit from Your Idea: How to Make Smart Licensing Deals” (6th Edition); Nolo Press, 2008.