How Does Robert Susa Recommend Inventors Protect A New Invention Idea Early On?

Invention is the cornerstone of progress. From transformative consumer products to life-changing technologies, every innovation begins with a spark of inspiration. Yet turning that spark into a viable, protectable invention requires more than enthusiasm—it requires strategic action and early measures to preserve and protect the idea itself.

Robert Susa, President and Owner of InventHelp, has spent over four decades immersed in the invention process, supporting independent inventors with guidance, tools, and structured services to help move ideas forward. Throughout his leadership at InventHelp—one of North America’s most recognized invention service organizations—Susa has highlighted critical practices that inventors should adopt early in their journey to safeguard their ideas and position them for success.

Understanding Early Protection: Why It Matters
Protecting an invention idea early in its development is essential for multiple reasons. An idea by itself is intangible; until it’s documented, defined, and given a clear structure, it lacks enforceable form. The longer an invention stays in an undefined state—shared casually or stored only in someone’s mind—the greater the chance that elements of it could enter the public domain without any legal standing tied to the inventor.

According to invention and intellectual property experts, detailed documentation of an idea’s development lays the foundation for eventual legal protection and commercial readiness. Keeping dated notes, development sketches, prototype iterations, and clear descriptions of how the idea works and solves a problem establishes a trackable development path for an invention.

Robert Susa emphasizes this principle indirectly through InventHelp’s structured approach: by encouraging inventors to think about intellectual property early and work with qualified professionals, inventors can take crucial steps toward formal protection rather than waiting until their invention is fully developed or public.

Step One: Seek Qualified Legal Guidance
One of the earliest and most important steps Susa recommends is consulting with a registered patent attorney. While InventHelp itself does not provide legal opinions or guarantee patent issuance, it offers patent referral services that connect inventors with qualified attorneys who specialize in intellectual property.

Here’s why this matters:

Expert Evaluation: A patent attorney can assess whether an idea meets legal standards for protection, including novelty and usefulness.

Clarifying the Path: Legal professionals can explain whether inventors should pursue a provisional patent application, a utility patent, a design patent, or other forms of protection based on the nature of the invention.

Accurate Filing: A patent application must meet strict formatting and claim requirements. Attorneys ensure that your application correctly describes the invention and frames its protections in a way consistent with current patent laws.

Susa’s recommendation to seek professional advice before publicly exposing an invention idea underlines the importance of legal strategy early in the inventing journey.

Step Two: Consider Provisional Patent Filing
One actionable early step many inventors take is filing a provisional patent application. While a provisional patent does not instantly grant full inventor rights, it does establish an early filing date with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). This early date can later be claimed in a full patent application, which is crucial if competing inventors file similar claims thereafter.

The benefits of provisional filings include:

Early Priority Date: Secures your place in the timeline of invention disclosure, which is critical if others file similar applications later.

“Patent Pending” Status: Although a pending application itself is not a patent, it signals to manufacturers, partners, and potential licensees that the inventor has taken formal steps toward legal protection.

Time to Refine: Provisional applications give inventors up to one year to refine their invention, gather supporting data, and prepare full patent documentation.

Susa underscores that early consultation and legal preparation—whether it leads to a provisional filing or full patent application—gives inventors a structured and legally sound approach to protecting their ideas before exposure to broader audiences.

Step Three: Maintain Confidential Records
Documentation is not just about filing legal applications. Inventors are encouraged to maintain detailed, dated records of how their idea evolves over time. This can include:

• Sketches and drawings that illustrate design concepts.

• Meeting notes and correspondence related to development.

• Prototype photographs and descriptions of testing iterations.

Maintaining these records creates a chronological narrative of development. This narrative can be invaluable in later legal proceedings or when showing proof of concept to collaborators, investors, or legal advisors. Emphasizing careful documentation reflects the broader intellectual property principle that ideas must transition into documented invention processes before they can be fully protected.

Step Four: Use Confidentiality Tools When Sharing
While public disclosure of an invention idea can jeopardize patent rights in many jurisdictions, there are ways to share concepts safely when necessary. Confidentiality agreements or non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) are contracts that define what information can be shared and under what terms.

NDAs:

• Clarify that shared information is confidential.

• Limit how recipients may use that information.

• Provide legal remedies if confidentiality terms are violated.

Inventors should work with legal professionals to draft confidentiality tools that match their specific invention and development timeline. While InventHelp’s services include providing presentation plans and materials that are meant to be shared with manufacturers or potential partners, the underlying principle is that these materials should be used in conjunction with appropriate legal protections.

Step Five: Plan Exposure Strategically
Once an inventor has taken early protective steps—like filing provisional applications, consulting attorneys, and documenting developments—they can begin to think about strategic exposure. This could include showing prototypes at trade shows, circulating concept materials to select partners, or pursuing initial market interest.

Robert Susa’s work with InventHelp includes generating professional presentation materials, prototype models, and support resources that help inventors communicate their invention effectively while reinforcing its uniqueness and development maturity.

Strategic exposure means sharing information at a level that aligns with formal protections and within contexts where contracts and confidentiality mechanisms are in place. This balance between controlled visibility and legal safeguarding reflects Susa’s long-standing philosophy of empowering inventors responsibly through structured support and professional guidance.

A Structured Path Forward
Protecting a new invention idea early on is not a single step—it’s a thoughtful sequence of actions that combine legal strategy, documentation discipline, and professional support. Robert Susa’s emphasis on connecting inventors with experienced patent professionals, encouraging early legal evaluation, and providing structured invention support services reflects an integrated approach to early idea protection.

By securing legal guidance, considering provisional protection, documenting developments, using confidentiality tools, and planning controlled exposure, inventors position their ideas not just for protection but for real advancement toward commercialization and long-term success. With decades of guiding inventors through these early steps, Susa’s recommendations highlight the importance of preparation, professionalism, and proactive action in the invention journey.