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	Gather Information Links for further reading: Process Overview Step 2 - Requirements. Step 3 - Information. Step 4 - Design. Step 5 - Prototypes. Step 6 - Production. Process Notes				Step 3 - Gathering Outside Information: To enhance the requirements list of Step 2, some specific outside information is needed.  Typically, a patent search and some market research are appropriate.  You may have no intention of patenting your new widget, but you really need to know you're not treading on others.  There are a lot of great patents for products the inventor didn't get to market.  (I believe some of that comes from not understanding the development process -- which is part of the stimulus in writing this article.) Patent Searches can be done in a few different ways.  You can do it yourself -- either at the library or on the web.  (http://www.uspto.gov/ is a pretty good source.)  Or you can hire someone to do the search for you. (Note:  I strongly suggest avoiding the "Invention Centers" that exploit the inventor and their wallets.) Perhaps the best source -- though they seem expensive -- are patent attorneys.  They won't develop your invention, but they can do a thorough search and can give better advise on patentability and infringement.  After all, a patent is only as good as it can be defended. Protecting Your Idea:  The Hewlett Packard web site had a great article on Patents: Protecting your big idea that can shed some good light on the types and processes for protecting intelectual property. Market research -- Depending on the scope of the project, market research is usually desired.  Since I am not an expert here, I'll leave this topic to others. Gathering Outside Information  (our Speaker Example): For the speakers, a quick patent search was done just to be sure of no infringement, but patenting was determined unnecessary because the goal was to build a great set of speakers, not to displace Bose or Onkyo.   The market research was really done before the project began.  The motivation for designing such speakers was the lack of availability in the market.  In this case, the market research came early and defined many of the requirements.  Additionally, the goal was not to sell millions. Continue to Step 4 - The Design Phase.

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