FROM VIRTUAL MARKETS OF INVENTIONS TO 1000inventions

by Dr Farag Moussa ©
President of the International Federation of Inventors' Associations (IFIA)
(e-mail: invention-ifia@bluewin.ch)

Updated version of lecture given at the
Forum on Invention and Innovation for the Challenges in the New Millenium
(Hong Kong, November 20, 2000)

I.  VIRTUAL MARKETS OF INVENTIONS

Trade Fairs and Invention Exhibitions are a typical way of marketing inventions, a traditional way, a good way, and we can bet that this way of marketing inventions will continue to exist in the future, as its usefulness has ben proved a thousand times.

And then came Internet! And what an invention! It was just a few years ago. And in no time, the way of doing business started to change. The computer screen is quickly becoming an important tool for marketing inventions, in addition to the traditional paper leaflets, brochures and catalogues. Some inventors are now advertising their inventions on their personal web site, while several organizations and companies are publishing long lists of inventions for sale or licensing on their web sites.

This new market, this virtual market, is now within reach of the inventor, and of all those, and they are many, who are interested in the fascinating world of inventions. And think of the possible benefits, benefits which are not virtual at all!

Now, what are we exactly talking about when we speak about a virtual market? We mean that with a click of a mouse, a person looking for new products and new business opportunities, can find online relevant information on inventions available for commercialization, and if this business person so desires, he can get in touch with the inventor or his potential representative. The potential business partners of the inventor are the same as in a real invention exhibition. They could be manufacturers, investors, venture capitalists, distributors, licensing agents, wholesale or retail sellers.

What people see on the screen will vary from one web site to another. In some cases very little information will be provided. The minimum being the title or a very brief abstract of the invention, plus a contact address. Some might add that if the visitor wants to see a description or a prototype of the invention, this can be viewed, but only after signing a "disclosure statement". This being said, most web sites disclose more information than just a title or an abstract, and a contact address. The information may appear in text form only, or also with drawings and pictures, depending on the web site.

If the web site includes only one invention, we shall call it a virtual showcase. And if the web site includes several show cases from different inventors, then we shall call this web site a Virtual Market of Inventions.

Like everything in life, the virtual market of inventions has its advantages and disadvantages.

Let us start with the advantages. Here are the main ones:
– For the inventor, it is a cheap and quick way to show his invention.
– For the business people, it is a very easy way to view inventions.
– And for everybody, be he an inventor or a business person, the invention can be seen from all over the planet, all around the clock, all the year through, and all that without having to travel!

Now let us look into the possible main disadvantages of the virtual market of inventions. I know many inventors who say they are afraid that their invention might be stolen if disclosed on the web. My answer to them is that if the only thing the inventor is afraid of is that his invention will be stolen, then his invention can as easily be stolen once he has been granted a patent, for the simple reason that the patent discloses the invention! Moreover, inventions are often officially disclosed before the grant of the patent. This is the case in all the countries where the Patent Office is forced by law to publish the patent 18 months after the filing date.

In my view, the danger of disclosing an invention lies elsewhere. That is when the inventor discloses his invention before filing his first patent application. This early disclosure can destroy the novelty of the invention, and therefore the grant of the patent might be refused by the Patent Office. That is why it is very important for the inventor to know what he can disclose and what he should not disclose on Internet (as is the case elsewhere). Simply said, he should not disclose how his invention functions, as for the rest, there is no danger.

The businessmen on their side may also find some disadvantages when visiting web sites which market inventions. For instance they cannot have a physical contact with the invention, they cannot turn it around with their hands, etc. But you should never forget that the Virtual Market you are browsing through is just a first step, a way of discovering an invention, a way of having a first look at it before you decide whether or not you will seek more information.

In fact, the visitor does not always need to contact the inventor himself at this stage. It is sometimes possible for him to get additional information simply through Internet.

– For instance, if the patent references regarding the invention are indicated on the web, an online search can be done and an abstract, or better a full text of the patent will appear on the screen and can be printed.
– Another way of obtaining still more information about the invention you are interested in, is through the personal web site of the inventor when he has one, provided his web is linked to the Virtual Market. On the personal web site of the inventor you will most probably find more pictures, drawings, etc.

And then we all know that modern technology is evolving very fast. Take for instance the so-called animated designs on 2D and 3D. Of course, some will say: OK, that is fine, but one has to have access to all that new technology and know how to use it. To that, we can only answer that the prices of the new technology are becoming more and more affordable, and that this modern world is no more a mystery to the young generation, even if all this may still look like science fiction to many of us.

Of course, the best Virtual Market cannot guarantee that it will be seen by many visitors. First, the potential visitor has to be able to find the site easily. Second, the visitor should be attracted to come back to the site several times. And that will depend on the design of the Virtual Market to a certain extent, but mainly on its content.

Now, what should the owner of the site do for the visitor to find the site and to return to it? There are of course some of the traditional ways of advertising the Virtual Market as you could do with real markets. But there are also some specific ways related to Internet, for instance, reciprocal links with other websites that also promote inventions.

One of the problems with Virtual Markets is that you don't always know who is behind the web site. Sometimes no mailing address is even given, just an e-mail address ending by <.com>, an address that could be based any where in the world! Thus you can't help raising the question of the credibility of the organization or the company offering you a list of inventions for sale or licensing... And be careful! I know some marketers of doubtful repute, who use the web as the latest variation of their false promises to the inventors. Those false promises being that their invention will get wide exposure, will be seen by hundreds of buyers, and bla bla bla! and bla bla bla.

The number of Virtual Markets of inventions is still limited, but it will no doubt increase very quickly. Some Virtual Markets are commercial, in the sense that their owners work for profit like any other business. In these cases, the inventor will have to pay a high fee to advertise his invention on that kind of web sites. Other Virtual Markets of inventions are owned by non-profit organizations (NGOs), such as foundations or inventor associations. These NGOs are simply trying to help inventors. They are not looking for profit. The most they will charge will be a symbolic sum, just enough to cover the expenses.

Some Virtual Markets of inventions are very small, offering a handful of inventions only. Others are larger, nevertheless they only offer inventions made, or mainly made, in the country of the web: American inventions on American web sites, Korean inventions on Korean web sites, etc.

II.  1000inventions

This brings me to our Virtual Market of inventions, first called the IFIA Internet Inventions Store (IFIS), now called 1000inventions.

1000inventions is unique in the sense that it offers inventions from very many countries. These originate from more than 100 countries belonging to all the regions of the world. An achievement that no other Virtual Market of inventions that I know has managed to realise. And yet our competitors are much richer than we are at IFIA.

The success story of 1000inventions is due in the first place to the fact that IFIA, the owner of 1000inventions, is a credible organization with a worldwide network of inventors and inventor associations as members, from some 100 countries. The second reason for that success is that Internet is cheap. IFIA could never have afforded such a display of inventions through traditional publicity means (brochure, etc.) or through a real invention fair or exhibition.

Better yet, we are able to offer an ad on 1000inventions free of charge to our members! Be they individual inventors, small innovative companies, or inventor associations. If an inventor succeeds in marketing his invention, we don't ask him a percentage on the benefits. Of course we shall always be grateful to those inventors who decide, on their own initiative, to offer a donation to IFIA!

To be clear on this point, the Contact Address which appears on 1000inventions is always that of the owner of the invention, or his representative. Let us be clear on another point: we don't assist the inventor in his discussions and negotiations with a potential business partner. We are just a go-between. And our site is open to everybody free of charge.

As you can see we don't derive any revenue from this system. We have other means to stay alive and grow up. We count more on our membership fees, on donations and hopefully on publicity, in addition to volunteer work.

It is however sad to say that human nature is the way it is: afraid of novelty. And that alas also applies to inventors, the very people who are creating novelty! As to the inventor associations, who are supposed to be the major link between 1000inventions and the inventors, sad to say, but many of them are still reluctant when it comes to adopt a system which was not born out of their own mind, which was not their own idea: "Not invented here!", and the door is closed!

Despite all this, 1000inventions is going its own way, developing every day. The number of inventors and inventor associations who have come to understand the importance of Internet as an intermediary between them and the business community, is indeed increasing. I am very optimistic in this respect.

Of course, it is not enough to display a lot of inventions on 1000inventions just for the sake of showing off. The inventions must be in all fields - this is already the case - and of quality - and this is certainly what we are aiming at. This being said, the problem is what is a "good" invention? There is no single answer to such a question, whether it is on the web or on a traditional fair.

The 1000inventions search system is being constantly improved, so as to help the business visitor to make his choice. When 1000inventions was first launched, we had only one search system, that is by technical categories, using the International Patent Classification, the IPC system, which divides inventions into eight (8) main technical categories. Later we added three more systems of search: by the name of the inventors ; by the name of the countries where the inventions were born ; and by the number given to each invention in the order of publication on 1000inventions. To all that we added a search engine. On the other hand, we are trying in every possible way to advertise 1000inventions.

In conclusion, I suggest that whether you are inventors or businessmen, or just curious people who want to know more about this new way of commercializing inventions on Internet, I suggest that you all come and surf on 1000inventions! Be welcome! Visit:

1000inventions website: www.1000inventions.com