Richard C. Levy, simply put, is a marketing genius with a flair for invention. In the past twenty years, he has licensed over 125 products including FurbyA (R), and the best-selling game "Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus." Richard holds more than 30 patents. This is his twelfth book. He was profiled on Discovery Channel's Invention series, and in interviews with The New York Times, and The Washington Post. An MIT Inventor-of-the-Week, Richard has spoken at Wharton's Entrepreneurship Conference, IBM, and the USPTO's Independent Inventors Conference, among other engagements. His products have generated over $1 billion in combined retail sales.

I. HOW TO GET YOUR GREAT IDEAS ON THE ROAD. 1. How to Realize Your Full Potential. Overcoming Naysayers. The First Pitch. America, the Land of Opportunity. Answering the Call. Investing in Your Invention. Education Isn't Everything. Levy's 10 Commandments for Success. 2. Beware of Invention Marketing Flimflam Artists. Attack of the Killer Patent Attorney. Flimsy Firms. Operation Mousetrap. The Price Is Not Always Right. Inventors Awareness Group. A Step in the Right Direction. What Comes After the Pitch. Heads Up. Before You Contract for Services... Who Are These Parasites? How to Tell the Pros from the Cons. New Twist to an Old Scheme. How Do They Get Your Name? Profile of an Honest Broker. What to Do if You Are a Victim. States (Inventor) Rights. How to Find an Honest Broker. 3. Licensing vs. Venture Capital. Business Options. The Licensing Option. The Advantages of Licensing. The Disadvantages of Licensing. Whooah, Not So Fast! Doing It Yourself: The Venturing Strategy. Prerequisites Common to Licensing and Venturing. Other Factors in Choosing a Commercialization Strategy. Think About Costs, at All Costs. If You Are Still Not Sure. II. GETTING HIGH MARKS. 4. How to Find a Home for Your Brainchild. Finding a Licensing Partner. Attend Trade Shows. Conferences and Meetings: Networking Meccas. Big Companies vs. Small Companies. So, What's the Answer? Public Companies vs. Private Companies. Where to Find Product and Corporate Profiles. Does the Shoe Fit? 5. Knock. Knock. Buy My Invention, Please! First Impressions. N.I.H. Syndrome. Choosing Your Target and Making Your Mark. The Corporate Culture. Lookin' to Hook 'Em. Sign on the Dotted Line. 6. How to Turn a Proposal into a Marriage. Honesty Is the Only Policy. You Should Hear a Pin Drop. The Three Ps. Multiple Submissions. Unfavorable Odds. Your Champion. 7. How to Negotiate Your Deal. On Lawyering-One Man's Opinion. Should You Use a Lawyer to Approach the Company? Do You Need a Lawyer for Contracts? Do You Need a Lawyer for Patents? Conducting Business. Winning at What Cost? Agreeing to Agree. Advances. Royalties. Guarantees. The Option Agreement. Levy's 10 Commandments of Contract Negotiation. Terms of Endearment. Patents. Trademarks. Who Pays? 8. Key Deal Points. I Do Not Have All the Answers. Show Me Yours, I'll Show You Mine. Fairness and Flexibility Rule. Management by Objectives. The Spirit of Agreement. Setting the Scene and the Mind. III. GOIN' FOR THE GOLD. 9. The United States Patent and Trademark Office. The Big Three in IP. Keepin' a List and Checkin' It Twice. Definition of a Patent. The Patent Law. What Is Patentable? The Examiners (Say Ah!). Established by Law, Built by Innovation-The USPTO. Only Inventors Need Apply. Copy Documents, Not Ideas, Please! Disclosure Documents. Submarine Patents (Periscope Up!). Office of Independent Inventor Programs. Coming Attractions. 10. It All Begins with a Patent Search. Looking for a Green Light. How to Conduct a Patent Search. Patent and Trademark Depository Libraries. Electronic Databases. PTDL Publications. Patent Search Steps. Patent Classification System. How to Order Copies of Prior Art. What to Do with Your Search Results. Searching Trademarks. The Last Word... 11. How to Hire a Patent Attorney. Do You Need a Patent Attorney? Is That Your Final Answer? Levy's Rules for Hiring a Patent Attorney. Another Money Saver. IV. UNCLE SAM WANTS (TO HELP) YOU! 12. How to Apply for a Utility Patent. Provisional Application for a Patent. Filing Date. Nonprovisional Application for a Utility Patent. Models Not Generally Required. Solamente Ingles, Por Favor. The Rules of the Game. I Do Solemnly Swear... Patentability of Computer Programs. Just the Fax, Please. 13. Flower Power: How to Apply for a Plant Patent. Interest in Plant Patents, a Growing Business. Beyond the Garden Walls. Who Can Apply for a Plant Patent? No Trespassing-Patent-Protected Grounds. Infringement. Turning to Trademarks. The Cost of Doing Business. Making Application. Inquiries. Provisions and Limitations. Inventorship. Asexual Reproduction. Helpful Hints. 14. How to Apply for a Design Patent. Insurance Against Me-Too Competitors. Form over Function. Putting the Competition on Notice. Lawyers Need Not Apply. How to Find a Draftsman. Design Patents Can Be Valuable. Defining Design. Types of Designs and Modified Forms. Claims. Improper Subject Matter for Design Patents. The Difference Between Design and Utility Patents. Elements of a Design Patent Application. The Preamble. The Figure Descriptions. A Single Claim. Drawings or Photographs. 15. Mark Your Words. There Is Nothing Like a Brand, Nothing in the World. Trademarks Can Take Many Forms. Dollars & Scents. Supreme Court Makes a Colorful Decision. Lost in the Translation. United States Patent and Trademark Office. Correspondence and Information. What Kinds of Marks Are Available? Function of Trademarks. Do You Need a Federal Trademark Registration? Marks Not Subject to Registration. Registerable Marks. Searches for Conflicting Marks. Law Firm Trademark Search. Professional Trademark Search. Do-It-Yourself Trademark Search. Searching the USPTO via the Internet. Establishing Trademark Rights. Terms of a Trademark. Types of Applications for Federal Registration. Who May File an Application? Foreign Applicants. Where to Send the Application and Correspondence. Use of the "TM," "SM," and "A (R)" Symbols. Examination. Publication for Opposition. Issuance of Certificate of Registration or Notice of Allowance. 16. Securing Your Copy Rights. Copyrights-They're Different The Copyright Office. What Would an Inventor Copyright? How Do You Secure a Copyright? Who May File an Application? Notice of Copyright. How Long Does Copyright Last? What Is Not Protected By Copyright? Striking the Right CORDS. How to Submit Registrations. In Search of Copyright Records. For Further Information. How to Investigate the Copyright Status of a Work. Individual Searches of Copyright Records. Application Forms. 17. I've Got a Secret. In the Court. Can Independent Inventors Have Trade Secrets? Uniform Trade Secrets Act. Keep a Tight Lip. 18. Say, Ah! The Patent Examination Process at the USPTO. First Office Action. Your First Response. Final Rejection. Amending Your Application. Time for Response and Abandonment. How to Make Appeals. What Are Interference Proceedings? What Rights Does a Patent Give You? Maintenance Fees. Can Two People Own a Patent? Can a Patent Be Sold? Assignment of Patent Applications. Infringement of Patents. To Sue or Not to Sue. Patent Enforcement Insurance. Abandonment of Patents. V. PEOPLE WHO SHARE, PEOPLE WHO DARE. 19. Hidden Treasures in Uncle Sam's High-Tech Closets. National Institute of Standards and Technology. Advanced Technology Program (ATP). Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). In Search of Innovation at USG Labs. Open for "Your" Business. Department of Energy. Office of Industrial Technologies (OIT). OIT Success Stories. Be Nice and Maybe You'll Get a Grant. DOE's Inventions and Innovation (I&I) Program. Notable Achievements. Small Business Administration. Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC'S). 20. Yes, Inventors, There Is a Santa Claus. An Industry Overview. The Toys Legends Are Made From. New York Toy Fair: A Networking Mecca. The Professional Edge. Questions for Self-Analysis. A Degree in Toy Design. TIA Freebie. The Hit Parade. 21. Inventor Organizations. Expanding Your Network. Care to Share? Inventor Organizations Thrive on American Soil. Truth in Packaging-Caveat Emptor. Take Your Pick. Intellectual Property Owners (IPO). The Value of State and Local Organizations. VI. APPENDIXES. Appendix A. Agreements. Appendix B. Resources. Appendix C. Political Letter. Index.