You may have visited this site in the past looking for news about auditions for the new TV show, American Inventor. And if you did, you would have found a lively conversation between eager American Inventor applicants. However, as some of us moved on in the process, we were reminded by AI staff that we were bound by confidentialitity clauses in the incredibly lengthy, sometimes amusing, and sometimes confusing agreement we had signed when we auditioned. We were told that it doesn't make very good TV if people can read all about it on the internet.
There wasn't anything posted here that revealed anything about the outcome of the show, but still, some of us were a little worried that our commentary here would endanger our chances on the show. I respect people's caution and concerns, and began by removing individual comments, but that made no sense, overall, since it left us with fragmented conversations, and I felt like everyone deserved equal protection, just in case it really was a problem -- not just those who thought to ask me to remove their comments. So, I took down the entire post and the comments. I'll put it up again after the show begins airing and I'm told it's OK to do so.
Please note: This is not a case of some big corporation pulling content off the web; I didn't geta cease and desist or anything. It's a case of a bunch of people who are really excited about something getting worried that their chances may be threatened by something relatively insignificant. I don't actually think it is, but it's not my choice to say so.
At least one other site, American Inventor tribe network, has been set up by another interested person. And another has invited people to visit his Inventor Blog.
Those of you who would like your invention websites linked here (again) should feel free to use this comment section below. As before, I reserve the right not to post links that don't seem appropriate, but I'm happy to direct people to the many interesting inventions I've learned about through this process!
Thanks to all those who participated, I hope I get to meet some of you, and good luck in LA!
-- Mary
http://airealitytv.blogspot.com/
Mary,
Can you also point people my way so they can continue the discussion that you no longer can keep up. It's a general AI forum that's also a place for everyday inventors to meet. It sounds like some of the round 2 people are getting calls that they won't be needed. I think everyone needs a place to discuss, and I understand you've been told not to. Thanks. And good luck.
Glad to! And I look forward to reading these sites, as well. It wasn't so much a case of me being "told not to" as being reminded not to :) Plus, I didn't want other people feeling like they may have been compromised by commenting on my blog.
Finally, discussion forums rather than blogs are a more technically logical way for really robust discussions to take place -- by the time it got to 150+ comments on my post (as I'm sure some of you can attest!), it was a bit much to scroll through. A discussion group or board can allow different threads to emerge, makes it easier to track new posts, etc.
Good luck to all!
Mary,
Thanks for directing folks to AI participant websites. I was going to the LA thin down, then I was called and they didn't need me. Two days later I got a call that they were very sorry my paperwork was in the wrong pile and the did need me to come out. Whew! Hopefully I'll see you there.
Best regards,
Dion
www.sand-off.com
http://airealitytv.blogspot.com/
Wow... talk about stress. But at least it's good news. Feel free to head to my blog and point others there too. I would hope to create as robust a dialogue as once lived here. And good luck.
Hello My name is danny rose....i am a 32 yr old professional wrestler/inventor out of Penna.
(i am NEW at all this so bare with me)
i did do the tryout gimmick in Wash.DC, but ive heard nothing yet....so the hopes are fadeing away slowly....
Heres my question for ANYONE & EVERYONE....HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
when i was in line at the AmericanInventor deal, i met a nice woman from N.C.had given me some nice pointers, decent info...and a fake email address for all my questions....lol
what i would like is someone to email me and talk to me like Im a 4 year old...please.
this nice lady(Jackie,if that was her real name)
told me some info about getting my ideas "patent pending" she told me to go to USPTO.com(which i could handle,,,,then it all went to shit cause its in greek,to me!: )then she said to print out the paperwork(didnt find) then i could fill that out,have a drawing and a name included of my invention, get a self addressed,stamped postcard, put that in with it...something like $80.00, and the postcard comming back to me would act like a receipt,,then id be Patent Pending???????????
am i close.....if anyone has any idea what im talking about, id like to do the process needed to make this patent pending without spending a million dollars up front..
help would be greatly appreciated,
thankyou,
"Doomsday" Danny Rose
faggabeefee@yahoo.com
Check out my web site. I might be able to help. I am a successful inventor of over 20 products. I have lectured all over the west coast for the last three years helping inventors just like myself get their ideas to market. Take a look. http://www.inventright.com
Hello Danny,
The woman was referring to a "PPA" [provisional patent application]. In summary, in 1995, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office allowed inventors to file what is called a Provisional Patent Application [PPA]. The PPA costs just $100 and legally allows inventors to state that their product is "patent pending". The PPA is similar to a regular patent application, but does not require "claims". It is not an official patent application, but is a sort of preliminary version that is attached to the real patent application later, which must be filed within the year. Though it is recommended that a patent attorney draft the PPA, it was developed with the idea that independent inventors could file the PPA themselves. If you need any more info about it, feel free to email me. Sincerely, Stephen Gnass, Executive Director, National Congress of Inventor Organizations