Andy Gibbs Hi Hal! We hear your name a lot now in the invention community. How did this happen? What is your involvement?
Harold Meyer Well I am a new products broker. I am also an inventor myself. I was involved with inventing and realized that many great new products were languishing because of a lack of good marketing. So, I decided to help inventors and create a business too. I originally wanted to invent on speculation, or "spec", but that involved a lot more money than I had at the time and there was such a groundswell for my marketing. So now, I spend a lot of time meeting with clients and manufacturers. Plus, I write for Inventors' Digest and lead a local CT inventors group, The Innovators Guild.
Andy Gibbs Please tell us why you are leery about big corporations regarding their dealings with inventors?
Harold Meyer There has been a history of big manufacturers taking advantage of inventors since the beginning of the US patent system. It's the classic David vs Goliath scenario, about which I wrote another essay recently. Some of the big companies feel they can try to strong-arm inventors. One method has been with drawn-out court battles. Another is by trying to invalidate the patent. Still other groups of manufacturers have teamed up in a coalition to try to defeat an inventor. It's very upsetting and unfair. But, I'd like to add that not all companies are like this.
Andy Gibbs How can inventors protect themselves?
Harold Meyer The classic way has been through a patent. I've heard various opinions, but generally, it is thought that the courts are now more pro-patent than before, so it is getting a little easier for inventors. Again, although I have heard conflicting reports, supposedly the CAFC (Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit that was created around 1983) is now the centralized venue for all patent appeals. Some observers feel that CAFC has issued more united decisions on patent validity and has unified the case law. Before, there were more courts involved, less precedent centralization and more politics.
Andy Gibbs Jerome Lemelson widely regarded as one the greatest inventors of recent memory, recently passed away. Please give your impressions of him and any related thoughts.
Harold Meyer Jerry Lemelson was an inspiration for us all. I didn't know him personally, but he has really been a role model. He made hundreds of millions of dollars doing what he loved and making our society and economy better. He and his wife were also very generous philanthropists, giving money to MIT and the Smithsonian to endow centers, awards and inventor education programs. The $500,000 Lemelson-MIT prize is the invention equivalent of the Nobel Prize. We need more Jerry Lemelsons!
Andy Gibbs We are hearing that this is now a time of empowerment for inventors. Please tell us why.
Harold Meyer There is a tremendous renaissance. First, second and third, you have the Internet. The Internet was created by inventors. But, we are also its biggest beneficiaries. We have 24 hour access to newsgroups and listservers for interpersonal networking, free online patent searching, free and unlimited email and we can set up our own web pages to transact business in all countries of the globe.
It's amazing! Previously only the big companies could afford expensive worldwide advertising. Now everybody has a website! Previously only big companies could afford online databases. Now everybody has them! Previously only big companies could afford fax machines and CAD. Now everybody has them! Plus, corporate downsizing and the aging of the baby boomers have flooded our field with like-minded comrades.
The hurdles are now a lot lower for independent inventors and we're forming support groups. Finally, there is a new respect for inventors emerging. I was out in Akron, Ohio this past December and visited Inventure Place, The National Inventors Hall of Fame. What a place! There is no doubt there!
Andy Gibbs What are some of the biggest future issues to be faced by inventors?
Harold Meyer The biggest single problem is the USPTO. Their fees are way too high for inventors. For a small entity, the fees over the lifetime of a single patent are over $4000! This just kills most inventors. The USPTO also backs the anti-inventor legislation. Last, there have been a large number of scandals there. The USPTO really needs better leadership.
Andy Gibbs Hal, thanks!
Harold Meyer Thank you! It's always my pleasure to talk with you, Andy! Keep up the good work!
