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[BlazeBeacon]

I had a patent that I obtained through one of those wonderful companies that took my money and ran. My product was never manufactured, as a result. I was not aware that there were maintenance fees involved in holding a patent, and therefore my product has become public domain. I still very much want to get my product into the market, but I don't know how to go about this. I'm worried that any company I pitch my idea to will take it for themselves and cut me out of the equation. Any suggestions? (Other that meeting with an attorney, which I plan to do. I'm just fishing for ideas here.)

[Bill Richards]

There are grace periods, are you sure it's lost?
Have you made any improvements that might give you an edge of any kind?  Do you have personal expertise that might be valuable to another company?  Contacts with venture capitalists?
That's what comes to mind right now.
Good Luck!

[BlazeBeacon]

There are grace periods, are you sure it's lost?
Have you made any improvements that might give you an edge of any kind?  Do you have personal expertise that might be valuable to another company?  Contacts with venture capitalists?
That's what comes to mind right now.
Good Luck!

Unfortunately, I have had the patent for 10 years, and I now understand that there were fees due at something like 3.5, 6.5 and 11 years..I'm pretty sure it's shot.