If development of your idea extends beyond the 12 month SuperNDA period, we can abandon your "Patent Pending number" and apply for a new one that will cover you for the next 12 months. However, before doing so, you should confirm that your idea is still "new" (worldwide, but ignoring disclosures under your SuperNDA). Recycling your "Patent Pending number" will preserve your Patent Pending rights for the next 12 months.
Your original signed SuperNDAs will remain in force and need not be amended, substituted or re‐signed.
As you near the 12 month deadline for filing a complete patent, we will endeavour to send you email reminders to either: file a complete patent; or recycle your "pending patent number".
Tips regarding product development:
- Product development is a continuous process. Obtain market feedback as soon as you have a product that is "likely commercially viable". You will obtain more relevant feedback from the market than from continued secret development in a prototyping facility.
- Start with functional prototypes. Design your prototypes for 3D printing. This is very affordable. Use these prototypes for confidential "closed group" market research. Designing for manufacture is a much later phase. Do not rush into tooling. We like Idaho Russet:
- Consult a patent attorney and consider filing a complete patent before releasing your product in the market. The SuperNDA phase should extend up to the filing date of your complete patent.
- Nothing will ever be "perfect". "Good enough" is good to start.
- Marketing is key ‐ the best ideas without a "marketing guy" are stillborn; average ideas with a good marketer end up in the shops.
- Consider your price point early on. Your sales price to the end customer coupled with your channel to market dictates your manufacturing cost. Your design must achieve this manufacturing cost to have a chance at success. Typically, your manufacturing cost should be between 15% and 33% of the sales price to the end‐customer.
