I have tried to buy something which it appears isn't available, it's very similar to an existing product but is modified. So I want to manufacture it. The problem is while I know exactly what I want, the reason it hasn't been manufactured is that there would need to be a new type of fastening designed.
I'm sure it's possible to do this with a good product designer/engineer. It's a very simple product, but it is for the medical market so would have to really be good/meet some sort of medical standards.
My problem is this one step (well for now at least), how do I find a product designer? and how do you protect the intellectual property? and lastly does anyone know what the way of paying for this goes... I mean is it a one off fee and even though they design the essential mechanism - I commissioned it - so I own the rights to them yeah?!? I don't have to pay them royalties do I?
Thanks for any help, clearly I need it!!