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Chapter 12
INDEPENDENT INVENTORS
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12.1 INTRODUCTION
e words “independent inventor” conjure up a romantic idea of a omas
Edison-like entrepreneur working long hours in a lab until one day the long-
awaited discovery is made. e inventor then shouts, “Eureka!” and runs from
the lab to the patent oce with patent application in hand. Shortly thereaer,
a beribboned patent covering the wonderful discovery issues, and people with
more money than they know what to do with beat a path to the inventor’s door.
As you might surmise, this image is far from the reality most independent inven-
tors enjoy. It is true that some independent inventors are ver ...