inventor.x
Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Indiana.
I first built a working prototype in less than a week as a model for my invention. I filed a provisional in Aug. 2013 as a 1 year placeholder while getting my invention to market. I then contracted a metal prototyping company, that has a very huge web presence, to build it for me. I was hoping for them to manufacture it for me while I market it and sold it. A win-win for both. They signed my attorney's NDA. I took a tour of their huge manufacturing plant and was impressed. They are the 2nd largest in the area. The president of the company personally called me and said he was very impressed with my invention, and he guaranteed it would make money for him too if I let them manufacture it. Verbally, they said they have it ready in a few weeks. There are only 4 small parts to my invention. This has been going on since last August, and they still can't get the first part right, and it always takes them 3/4 weeks to correct their mistake, only to find out they made another one. I even gave them my exact prototype with exact dimensions and they still get it wrong! I'm only in to them for $1000, for the first 10 completed prototypes, but I don't think they'll have them ready for me for another 5 years at their rate of progress. Are they playing me for a sucker? What can I do? Are all these rapid prototyping companies playing this game to discourage inventors in hopes of stealing their inventions? Are there any honest companies anywhere in the invention chain? Do I still have to file the utility by August?
Thanks to all responders.
I first built a working prototype in less than a week as a model for my invention. I filed a provisional in Aug. 2013 as a 1 year placeholder while getting my invention to market. I then contracted a metal prototyping company, that has a very huge web presence, to build it for me. I was hoping for them to manufacture it for me while I market it and sold it. A win-win for both. They signed my attorney's NDA. I took a tour of their huge manufacturing plant and was impressed. They are the 2nd largest in the area. The president of the company personally called me and said he was very impressed with my invention, and he guaranteed it would make money for him too if I let them manufacture it. Verbally, they said they have it ready in a few weeks. There are only 4 small parts to my invention. This has been going on since last August, and they still can't get the first part right, and it always takes them 3/4 weeks to correct their mistake, only to find out they made another one. I even gave them my exact prototype with exact dimensions and they still get it wrong! I'm only in to them for $1000, for the first 10 completed prototypes, but I don't think they'll have them ready for me for another 5 years at their rate of progress. Are they playing me for a sucker? What can I do? Are all these rapid prototyping companies playing this game to discourage inventors in hopes of stealing their inventions? Are there any honest companies anywhere in the invention chain? Do I still have to file the utility by August?
Thanks to all responders.