Arthur, a past Vice President of IANE,  is an industrial designer and an inventor of numerous toys and games.  He has more than one dozen patents issued or pending for such devices and has developed over 100 products.  One is for a carousel holder for the deed cards used for playing "Monopoly".

Working in the fast paced unique game industry, Arthur often had to create prototypes ASAP, using whatever he had on hand and his ingenuity.  Getting the game on the market ULTRAFAST, oftentimes leaves little room for the patent process.  In fact, he said that toy companies often will not even sign confidentiality or nondisclosure agreements; if they like the game they'll go with it based on the integrity and good faith of the presenter.  The toy industry in this respect is a lot different from other industries where intellectual property is more the rule rather than the exception.  He invented the "Lost Treasure" game for Parker Brothers based on an electronic prototype he concocted in 2 weeks for a cost of about $25.  He eventually made 6 figures in royalties and was thrilled when he got his first $25,000 royalty check. He also named the Parker Brothers  "NERF" product line and the popular game "Merlin".  Arthur dazzled the audience with his big display of toys and games and with his 'product development models' showing the stages of development and evolution into the final product such as "Puzzle Pen", foldable soft foam glider airplanes, "Home Alone" game he created after watching the movie of the same name and working up a game in two weeks and "moving & rocking battery operated Hollywood style toy customized trucks" and a host of other toys and games.

Arthur said that it is very difficult for independent inventors to get their toys onto the market alone.  Most toy and game inventions are presented to the "right person or company" via toy agents and "contacts" who are well known and respected in the toy industry or through known toy inventors who have an '"in".  For example, the upcoming Annual Toy Fair in NYC is on February 9-10 is open only by invitation to such contacts.  A toy agent may be willing to present your toy invention to a buyer, in return, typically for a hefty 40-50% piece of the action plus some upfront money to "try" and to cover the toy agents expenses.  Typical royalties payable to lucky inventors are about 5% of the wholesale price; but many companies think 3% is about right.  If you are lucky, you may even get a $5,000 cash advance against future royalties on a "hot, can't miss toy or game".  Master licenses like those for "Star Wars" are typical in the TIU (Toy Industry Union).  Agents should be selected very carefully, strictly by recommendations of satisfied clients and not on big ads in trade magazines.  Arthur says that there are too many rip-off artists out there who are 'black-balled' by reputable companies seeking new toys and cautions budding toy inventors to be careful.  To succeed, toy and game prototypes should be carefully crafted  and be as close to the final version as practical so that the buyer can quickly grasp the concept of the item.  Investing considerable money by the inventor in a nice professional toy or game prototype is almost a must in this industry.  Unlike other industries where patents and associated patent drawings are sufficient in most cases to begin licensing negotiations, a poor looking model toy will certainly be rejected on sight.  A trade magazine for the toy and game industry is "Playthings".
Meeting Report by Joe Birkner 1/23/02      RETURN TO IANE FRIENDLY LINKS