- Inventor Smart HQ
- Posts
- Inventors on the Move: What’s Happening This March in the Inventor Smart Community
Inventors on the Move: What’s Happening This March in the Inventor Smart Community
Live events, expert insights, new podcast conversations, and practical guidance to help you move your invention forward.
Inventor Smart
March 16, 2026 • Estimated Reading Time: 36 minutes
In partnership with
March 2026
Whether you’re an experienced inventor or a newbie who just came up with your first big idea, the Inventor Smart Monthly Newsletter is for you!
What’s Inside This Edition
💡 Community Hangout Tonight – Meet fellow inventors and connect live (Mar 16)
🏛️ Featured Event – Inventor Day 2026 at the USPTO (final call — 50+ attending)
🌍 Live NIC Event – International Patents: What Every Inventor Needs to Know (WIPO)
💰 Invention Playbook – What It Really Costs to Bring an Invention to Life
🧠 Inventor Insight – Claiming Your Idea the Smart Way
🎙️ Inventor Spotlight – Deanna Ratnikova & the GoDeck outdoor adventure cards
🎥 Replay Available – The Parts of a Patent Every Inventor Should Know
🎙️ Inventor Coach Podcast – Test Before You Invest (Episode 8)
🎬 Got Invention Show – Be a guest + featured episode with The Gutter Grabber
📚 Inventor Education – Patent & Trademark Resource Centers (PTRC)
💼 Licensing Basics – Understanding Brand Licensing
💬 Inventor Advice – Wisdom from the community
📜 Invention History – Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone breakthrough
📅 Community Events – March hangouts, WIPO event, USPTO trip, and live Q&A
💬 InventorChat.com – Your 24/7 inventor conversation hub
Community Hangout — Join Us Live Tonight
Join us tonight, Monday, March 16th at 8:00 PM EDT for a relaxed and welcoming Community Hangout inside the Inventor Smart community.
This is a free virtual meet and greet open to anyone who wants to come by, say hello, and connect with other inventors on a similar path.
📅 Monday, March 16, 2026
🕗 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM EDT
📍 Live Online
Hosted by Samantha St. Raymond, VP of Community, and Shawn Taylor, Head of Community, this casual online meetup is a chance to step out of the solo side of inventing and spend time with others who understand the journey.
Whether you’re just getting started or have been working on your invention for a while, this is a space to:
Introduce yourself and meet the community
Share what you’re working on
Hear what other inventors are building
Ask questions or just listen in
Make the journey feel less individual and more connected
Inventing can be exciting — but it can also feel isolating sometimes.
You do not have to do it alone.
Come hang out for an hour, meet some great people, and connect with others who are also turning ideas into something real.
👉 Join live on Google Meet:
https://meet.google.com/hva-oait-nem
Inventor Day 2026 at the USPTO — Almost Here
Some moments in the inventor journey change how you see everything.
Walking the halls of the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office is one of them.
Inventor Day 2026 is almost here.
On March 26, 2026, the National Inventor Club returns to USPTO Headquarters in Alexandria, VA for our third annual Inventor Day.
More than 50 inventors from across the country are already attending.
If you’ve been thinking about joining us, this is the final call before we close out the attendee list.
This isn’t a webinar.
This isn’t theory.
This is the system… up close.
You’ll:
Tour the USPTO facilities
Learn directly from USPTO staff
Connect with inventors from across the country
See how ideas move through the patent system in the real world
Arriving early? Join us for the Inventor Smart Community Networking Mixer on March 25 (evening) — a relaxed, informal way to connect with other inventors before the big day.
📍 USPTO Headquarters — Alexandria, VA
📅 March 26, 2026
🕖 Networking Mixer: March 25
🎥 Watch a short video from a previous visit to experience the setting, conversations, and energy for yourself.
👉 Learn more: https://inventorday.com
👉 Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc-USfVZFXKA_WPlViq1aR1G7LQJH6wUpWC0BmPIwpyqsQdxQ/viewform
If you want to see how the patent system really works — and meet the people inside it — this is your chance.
We look forward to seeing many of you in Alexandria.
Understanding Royalties, Distribution, and Smart Licensing Decisions
One of the most important—and often misunderstood—aspects of licensing your invention is how royalties work across different distribution channels. Not all sales are created equal, and understanding the math behind them can help you negotiate smarter deals.
In many traditional retail situations, a licensee sells a product wholesale to a retailer, who then marks it up for consumers. For example, if a product wholesales for $4 and retails for $8.99, your royalty as the inventor (licensor) is typically calculated on the $4 wholesale price. Royalty rates commonly range from 2% to 10%. At a 5% royalty, you’d earn $0.20 per unit. That might not sound like much—until scale kicks in. If a major retailer orders 100,000 units, that’s a $20,000 royalty payment to you.
Direct-to-consumer channels, such as infomercials or radio advertising, may involve different royalty structures. While there may be no wholesaler, there are other costs to consider, including advertising and airtime expenses. Each channel has its own financial dynamics, and those differences matter when negotiating terms.
Smaller or independent distribution channels may offer higher margins for the licensee, which could open the door to negotiating a higher royalty rate. However, those channels usually sell fewer units. The “right” royalty rate depends on many factors—product category, typical margins, and where and how the product will be sold.
As the inventor, you own the intellectual property, and any licensing agreement should clearly define key terms such as:
Length of the agreement (term)
Geographic territory (regional or global)
Royalty rate and payment terms
Minimum sales guarantees or projections
Exclusivity conditions
You may also discuss an advance payment against future royalties as a sign of the licensee’s commitment. Every agreement is different, and flexibility is often necessary to make a deal work. The goal is fairness, clarity, and aligned expectations—just like any good partnership.
Keep in mind, when you license your invention, you give up some control over marketing, pricing, and distribution. That’s the tradeoff for working with companies that already have strong buyer relationships and deep market experience.
If your product includes a licensed brand or character, margins may be lower because the licensee must pay royalties to multiple licensors. However, recognizable characters or brand names can significantly boost sales volume. While the royalty per unit might be smaller, the overall return can be much larger due to increased demand.
The bottom line: always make sure you have an experienced attorney or qualified licensing consultant representing you. Licensing can be complex, and having the right guidance helps protect your invention—and maximize its potential.
Inventor Insight: Claiming Your Idea
by Brian Fried
Before investing serious time, money, and energy into an invention, it’s critical to determine whether your idea can be protected. This step often requires professional help from a patent attorney or registered patent agent who can review existing patents and similar products. Skipping this process could lead to costly problems later—especially if you unknowingly infringe on someone else’s patent.
You can find registered intellectual property professionals through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website. While this review may cost a few dollars upfront, it can save you significant time, stress, and expense down the road. It’s also smart to request a written opinion from the attorney or agent explaining whether your idea may qualify for patent protection or another form of intellectual property.
Coming up with a strong invention idea—and evaluating whether it’s worth pursuing—takes time, patience, and practice. Developing this skill is much like learning anything new; it becomes easier with experience. Pay attention to your surroundings and how people use everyday products. Ask yourself:
What could work better?
What’s frustrating or inefficient?
How could a simple improvement make a big difference?
Most importantly, try to separate emotion from evaluation. When you come up with an idea, think like a business owner. This is part of the market research and development process. You’re deciding whether to move forward—or move on to the next idea—and both outcomes are valuable steps on your inventor journey.
International Patents: What Every Inventor Needs to Know
Join us LIVE this Thursday, March 19, 2026 for a special FREE National Inventor Club event focused on protecting your invention beyond U.S. borders.
📅 Thursday, March 19, 2026
🕖 7:00 PM EST (4:00 PM Pacific)
📍 Live Online
You’ve worked hard to develop your invention. But here’s something many inventors don’t realize until it’s too late:
A U.S. patent does not protect your invention internationally.
If your product is manufactured, sold, or copied in another country, protecting your intellectual property globally requires a different strategy. That’s where WIPO and the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) come in.
We’re bringing in Matthias Reischle-Park, Deputy Director and Head of PCT Legal and User Support at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), to break down how international patent protection actually works — in clear, practical terms.
In this session, we’ll cover:
PCT basics — what it is, how it works, and why it matters no matter where you are in your invention journey
The real costs — what you actually need to budget for global protection
Strategic timing — when to file PCT vs. when to go direct (the important 30-month decision)
Resources available — how to use WIPO tools and support systems
Enforcement overseas — what happens if someone copies your invention in another country
Common mistakes — what experienced professionals see inventors doing wrong
Real success stories — how inventors have used PCT to protect and monetize their inventions globally
Future updates — changes and improvements coming to international filing
This event is for you if:
You want to manufacture or sell your invention internationally
You’re thinking about global markets for your product
You want to avoid costly mistakes when filing patents overseas
You’ve filed a U.S. patent and want to understand your international options
You want to build intellectual property protection that supports worldwide growth
Your invention may have global potential.
Let’s make sure you understand how to protect it the right way.
When: Thu, March 19, 2026 — 7:00 PM EST
Where: Online
Add event to calendar
Tech moves fast, but you're still playing catch-up?
That's exactly why 200K+ engineers working at Google, Meta, and Apple read The Code twice a week.
Here's what you get:
Curated tech news that shapes your career - Filtered from thousands of sources so you know what's coming 6 months early.
Practical resources you can use immediately - Real tutorials and tools that solve actual engineering problems.
Research papers and insights decoded - We break down complex tech so you understand what matters.
All delivered twice a week in just 2 short emails.
Click the link in the ad to support the Inventor Smart Community and help us continue building a space where inventors can thrive!
Inventor Spotlight #16: Deanna Ratnikova’s GoDeck Journey — From Hidden Trails to Hit Product
Host Samantha St. Raymond sits down with inventor Deanna Ratnikova, creator of GoDeck — a creative card-based product line designed to help people discover new outdoor adventures, one outing at a time.
What started as neighborhood walks with her 3-year-old daughter during the pandemic turned into a growing product business built around exploration, movement, and family connection. Inspired by the hidden trails, parks, and waterfront walks tucked into everyday city life, Deanna created GoDeck — a 52-card guide that encourages locals and visitors to try one new outdoor adventure each week of the year.
Originally from East Tennessee and now based in San Diego, California, Deanna shares how she bootstrapped her first deck, launched in late 2023, expanded into new city editions, began landing retail placements, and built a direct-to-consumer business around a product she truly believes in. In this candid episode, she also opens up about the emotional side of inventing — from self-doubt and financial risk to family involvement, community support, and staying motivated when the road gets hard.
This conversation goes beyond the product — it’s about trusting your idea, building something meaningful, and creating real-world experiences that bring people together.
🔗 Learn more about GoDeck: https://thegodeck.com
📲 Join the Inventor Smart Community: https://app.inventorsmart.com
🧰 More inventor resources: https://theinventortoolbox.com
📱 Now Streaming On
📧 Interested in sponsoring the podcast? Email [email protected]
✨ Become a Premium Insider in the Inventor Smart Community App for your chance to be featured on the Inventor Spotlight Podcast!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Brand Licensing?
Licensing is a marketing and brand expansion tool that is used globally by everyone from major corporations to the smallest of small businesses. Entertainment, sports, and fashion are some of the best known areas of licensing, but the business reaches into the worlds of corporate brands, art, publishing, colleges and universities, non-profit groups, and more.
Ultimately, brand licensing is a way of doing business that connects you with an ever-widening range of property types, product categories, territories, and demographics.
If you’re looking for the most basic definition, however, a license is an agreement through which a licensee leases the rights to a legally protected piece of intellectual property from a licensor (the entity which owns or represents the property) for use in conjunction with a product or service.
Source: Licensing International
Upgrade to Premium Insider
Enhance your inventor journey with exclusive benefits:
Connect with Experts: Join live Q&A sessions to get personalized advice.
Increase Your Visibility: Feature your innovations in community spotlights.
Master Your Skills: Enjoy complimentary access to Inventor Class masterclasses.
Exclusive Savings: Receive special discounts at InventorMart and on coaching with Brian Fried, The Inventor Coach.
Plus, many more perks!
Now Available: The Parts of a Patent Every Inventor Should Know (Replay)
Missed the livestream? The full recording is now available to watch.
In this recent National Inventor Club livestream, Brian Fried sits down with Raymond Van Dyke, Intellectual Property Attorney, for a practical walkthrough of how to actually read and understand a patent.
For many inventors, patents can look confusing and overwhelming at first glance. This session breaks it all down in plain English so you can understand the structure of a patent and what each section actually means.
In this conversation, you’ll learn:
Utility patents vs. design patents — what’s the difference and which one might apply to your invention
How to decode patent claims — the most important section of any patent
What the reference numbers mean in patent drawings
The real purpose of the summary and specification sections
How to identify the strong points and weak spots in a patent
What patent examiners look for when reviewing an application
Whether you're preparing to file, already have a patent, or simply want to better understand how patents work, this session will help you read and evaluate intellectual property with much more confidence.
🎬 Watch the full replay here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2lQg7feAMs
🌟 Be a Guest on The Got Invention Show! 🌟
Are you an inventor ready to share your story and showcase your product?
The Got Invention Show, hosted by Brian Fried, gives inventors a platform to:
✅ Promote your invention
✅ Pitch for licensing or distribution opportunities
✅ Inspire fellow inventors with your journey
Each 30-minute interview highlights your challenges, solutions, lessons learned, and your next steps as an innovator.
🎥 Watch & Listen:
GotInventionShow.com | Google Podcast | Spotify | iHeartRadio | Apple Podcasts & more
👉 Want to be featured? Apply today:
GotInventionShow.com
🎬 Featured Episode
Joe Weston & The Gutter Grabber
One of our past episodes of Got Invention Show featured Joe Weston, a true example of innovation born from real-world experience.
Joe has been cleaning windows for over 25 years and now serves more than 500 customers through his business, Window Cleaning by Joe. Although his career started in hotel management, Joe decided in 2009 to leave that behind and pursue his own business full-time. By 2010, he was all in—and much happier for it.
While working on rooftops, Joe realized that ladder-on-gutter safety devices on the market just weren’t adequate. Rather than accept the risk, he invented a better solution: The Gutter Grabber, a ladder-on-gutter safety device that he patented himself.
Although the $40-per-unit product isn’t yet on the market, Joe is already enjoying the benefits. By mounting it above the gutter line, he’s much safer while working on roofs—a great reminder that many inventions start with solving a personal problem first.
Joe lives in Sparta with his wife and has two grown sons who, thankfully, never worked for him (his words—LOL).
If you’d like to learn more, share feedback, or follow Joe’s progress, visit www.theguttergrabber.com
It’s always inspiring to see how passion, experience, and a little creativity can turn everyday challenges into inventions that make life safer and better!
Watch the Episode here: Got Invention Show: Joe Weston, The Gutter Grabber Invention
The Inventor Coach Podcast
Test Before You Invest: How to Validate Market Demand for Your Invention
Episode 8
You’ve got a great idea — maybe even a prototype — but here’s the real question: Will anyone actually buy it?
Before you pour time and money into production, this episode walks you through how to test market demand the smart way. Brian Fried shares practical strategies to help you avoid assumptions, gather real feedback, and let the market guide your next move.
In this episode, you’ll learn why falling in love with your idea can be risky — and why proof beats assumptions every time.
Here’s what Brian covers:
• How to get honest feedback from real potential customers (not just friends and family)
• What questions to ask when showing a sketch or prototype
• How to research Amazon, Etsy, retail sites, and brick-and-mortar stores for competition
• Why negative reviews on similar products can reveal opportunity
• How to create a simple landing page to test buying interest before manufacturing
• Using small ad campaigns, surveys, social media polls, and local events to gather real-world reactions
You don’t need a finished product to test the market — you need clarity.
If there’s one takeaway, it’s this: Don’t build it and hope they come. Test early. Test often.
If you’re serious about validating your invention idea and want support along the way, the Inventor Smart Community App connects you with inventors, entrepreneurs, startups, and service providers who are actively building and learning together.
🎙️ Listen on all major platforms
Spreaker | YouTube | Spotify | iHeart Radio | Amazon
Patent and Trademark Resource Centers
If you’re serious about protecting your invention and navigating the patent or trademark process more confidently, you’ll definitely want to explore the Patent and Trademark Resource Centers (PTRCs) provided by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. These centers are free and offer valuable support to inventors, entrepreneurs, and small business owners.
What are PTRCs?
PTRCs are a nationwide network of public, academic, and state libraries designated to help the public access patent and trademark information. They are staffed by USPTO‑trained specialists who can guide you through key steps in your intellectual property journey.
How PTRCs can help you:
🤝 Learn how to conduct patent and trademark searches using official USPTO tools
📄 Understand application procedures and fees
🔍 Access patent and trademark databases that many inventors don’t know about
🎓 Attend local workshops or classes on intellectual property topics (availability varies by location)
🧑💼 Connect to USPTO resources and attorney directories to support your next steps
(Note: PTRC representatives do not provide legal advice.)
There are PTRCs located across the U.S. and its territories, including public libraries and college campuses, making it easier for inventors everywhere to find help close to home.
Why this matters:
Whether you’re just starting your invention journey or moving toward a patent application, having access to knowledgeable library staff and official USPTO research tools can save you time, reduce uncertainty, and help you avoid costly mistakes.
👉 Explore these resources and find a PTRC near you:
https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/patent-trademark-resource-centers
Invention Playbook: What It Really Costs to Bring an Invention to Life
The Invention Playbook focuses on one clear mission: helping inventors make smarter decisions as they move their ideas forward. Whether your goal is to license, manufacture, sell, or pivot your invention, success usually comes down to understanding the path ahead and making the right moves at the right time.
In the latest issue, Brian Fried tackles one of the most important — and often avoided — topics in the invention journey: the real cost of bringing an invention to life. Many inventors focus on the excitement of the idea, but fewer take the time to understand the investment required to turn that idea into a real opportunity.
This new Playbook article breaks down the typical stages of the invention journey and what inventors should realistically expect along the way.
Here are a few key themes Brian explores:
The real investment required for research, patents, development, and marketing
The difference between licensing and manufacturing paths — and how the costs can change dramatically
Why moving in the right sequence matters — research first, then protection, then development
How smart inventors invest in phases instead of spending emotionally or too early
The goal is not to discourage inventors — it’s to give you the clarity needed to make confident, strategic decisions and avoid the costly mistakes that many inventors make early on.
If you're serious about moving your invention forward, this is an important read.
👉 Read the full article here:
https://inventionplaybook.com/p/what-it-really-costs-to-bring-an-invention-to-life
Accelerate Your Invention Journey with Premium Insider Access
Ready to transform your ideas into reality faster? Become a Premium Insider and gain exclusive access to tailored resources, expert guidance, and special opportunities designed specifically to support inventors like you.
💬 Advice from an Inventor
Learn to enjoy the process... and the product will take care of itself. Remember, the key to inventing is not to recognize that a square peg won't fit in a round hole, but rather that a square peg can become the handle of a hammer. With which you can use nails instead of pegs!
INVENTION HISTORY: March 7, 1876—Alexander Graham Bell was granted a patent for the telephone
One of the most transformative inventions in modern history is the telephone — a device that forever changed how people communicate across distances. Long before cell phones, internet messaging, and video calls, inventors were driven by the desire to transmit sound over wires. That dream became a reality thanks to Alexander Graham Bell.
Bell’s work built on years of experimentation with sound and speech. On March 10, 1876, he famously succeeded in transmitting clear speech electronically. His first intelligible words over a wire were to his assistant: “Mr. Watson — come here — I want to see you.” This moment marked the birth of practical voice communication technology.
The telephone quickly evolved from a laboratory curiosity to a global tool. Early models were simple and mechanical, but as public networks grew, the telephone became essential for business, government, and personal use. The invention didn’t just change technology — it reshaped society, shrinking distances and connecting communities in ways previously impossible.
Bell’s achievement paved the way for the telecommunications revolution we experience today — from landlines to smartphones and beyond. His work reminds inventors that bold ideas, persistent experimentation, and a willingness to build on the work of others can spark breakthroughs that impact the world.
Stay Connected with the Inventor Smart Community
Here’s what’s coming up next in the Inventor Smart Community App. Join us live for expert guidance, real conversations, and community connection.
Upcoming Events
• Community Hangout
Mon, Mar 16 • 8:00 PM (EST) • Online
• INTERNATIONAL PATENTS: What Every Inventor Needs to Know
Thu, Mar 19 • 7:00 PM (EST) • Online
• Inventor Day 2026 at the USPTO
Thu, Mar 26 • Alexandria, VA
• Ask the Inventor Coach: Live Q&A with Brian Fried
Tue, Mar 31 • 8:00 PM (EST) • Online
👉 Visit Our Events Page
https://app.inventorsmart.com/events
Add event to calendar
Join the Conversation at InventorChat.com
Have a question? Hit a roadblock? Or maybe you just scored a small win worth sharing?
Inventor Chat is your always-open hangout for real inventor talk, no sales pitches, no pressure. Just a place to swap ideas, share progress, get feedback, and see what other innovators are building.
It’s free, it’s 24/7, and it’s where our community keeps the momentum going between meetups and events.
👉 Jump in now at InventorChat.com, your next breakthrough might just start with a conversation.
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our sponsors for their invaluable support to the Inventor Smart Community. Their contributions help us provide essential services and resources to inventors everywhere.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Interested in promoting your product or service in our future newsletters? We offer exclusive sponsorship opportunities to help you reach a targeted audience of inventors and innovators.
Email Us or call (631) 565-7074
Join the Inventor Smart Community
Stay connected, unlock exclusive resources, and become part of a vibrant network of inventors. The Inventor Smart Community website is your central hub for networking, learning, and sharing innovative ideas.
Don't miss out—join now and take your invention journey to the next level!
Brian Fried's Latest Book - Now Available on Audio!
Discover the insights and strategies from Brian Fried, "The Inventor Coach," in his latest book. Whether you're just starting out or looking to enhance your invention journey, this book is packed with valuable advice. And now, it's available in audiobook format for your convenience!
Listen to the audiobook on Audible: Get it on Audible here
InventorMart
A shop for Inventors, innovators, and patent holders. You've worked hard on your invention, now you can wear DESIGNS & MERCH made with you in mind! Find shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, hats, stickers, blankets, and over 1,000 unique items to show that you are proud to be an inventor. Check out InventorMart at InventorMart
About Brian Fried
Brian Fried, widely recognized as "The Inventor Coach," is an accomplished innovator, author, and speaker with over 20 years of experience guiding inventors on their journey from idea to reality.
With 15 patents to his name, Brian has successfully licensed and manufactured his own inventions, earning recognition through QVC, infomercials, catalogs, and major retailers. As an invention licensing agent, Brian offers personalized coaching to help inventors commercialize their ideas into tangible products.
Brian is the founder of the National Inventor Club, a thriving community for inventors to collaborate, network, and access valuable resources. He also serves as the Chief Invention Officer at Inventor Smart, where he supports inventors through product development, licensing, and commercialization strategies.
In October 2023, Brian launched the Inventor Smart Community app, available on Google Play and the Apple App Store. This innovative platform serves as a social network and resource hub exclusively for inventors, fostering connections and providing tools to support their creative endeavors.
As an engaging speaker, Brian captivates audiences with his expertise on invention and innovation. He has authored three practical books for aspiring inventors and hosts the "Got Invention Show," a platform showcasing inventors and their creations, offering them valuable exposure.
With his extensive experience, resourcefulness, and passion for helping inventors succeed, Brian Fried is a trusted figure in the invention community, dedicated to turning ideas into reality.
📩 Contact Brian:
🌐 brianfried.com
📱 Inventor Smart App
📧 [email protected]
🤝 Connect on LinkedIn
Thank You for Reading
We hope you enjoyed the March 2026 edition of the Inventor Smart Community Newsletter!
📩 Subscribe to our updates on LinkedIn
🌐 Visit: inventorsmart.com | app.inventorsmart.com
Inventively Yours,
Brian Fried & The Inventor Smart Team
Reply