As suggested here, due diligence is the best course of action when deciding to place trust in an individual or other entity. This applies to everyone involved in every step of the process.

Some things to look for:

If they are professionals, are they licensed? (attorney and other agents) Have they been disciplined?

Do a Better Business Bureau search on everyone. (including edisonnation )

Do they have bankruptcies, liens, judgments?

Do a search on several different search engines for scams related to the individual/entity.

That said, I must disclose that I own and run a Background Check/Pre Employment/Due Diligence screening company. But, I am not here to drum up business or advertise. Most of these background checks can be done yourself. %99.99 of my clients are businesses that know they can do these things themselves but they don’t have the time or manpower to do so, so they pay me to do it. I give out lots and lots and lots or free info and advice ( any good boutique type company should IMHO) so if anyone here needs advice on due diligence please contact me. I promise I will direct Edison Nation members to the DIY methods of due diligence whenever feasible, and I will advise about anything that requires a background company’s service. The only thing that comes to mind in the things that I listed that would require a background company service is liens and judgments.

I think it depends somewhat on “who”.

- A patent attorney you’re working with? I’d have to trust them.
- Everyday Edisons? If you submit an idea here, there are clear rules you can trust them to abide by.
- EN Forums? Well, folks here seem pretty trustworthy but I wouldn’t just post details of an idea here – at minimum that is ‘public disclosure’.
- Some ‘handy’ guy you know and you ask to build a prototype for you? I’d get him to sign an NDA first.
- Companies that accept idea submissions but have no NDA or other agreement, or have one that says they can use your idea without compensation? I’d stay away.
- A relative? You know your family better than we do.

Unless you are going to make the product yourself, distribute it, do the sales and advertizing you will have to work with others to get your product on the shelf. Is it good to be cautious, yes. Is it good to be paraniod, no. Do your research so you feel comfortable and can minimize your mistakes. But in the end it is all a risk and if you are not willing to take a risk unless it is guaranteed you will never feel secure.

Your going to have to trust somebody!! If you ever want your new or improve product to get to the next level your going to have to trust somebody, whether you contact a patent attorney, a manufacture or retailer, your going to have to trust somebody…If your afraid that EN is going to steal your idea, think again….EN is not in the business of stealing ideas, if they were…they would not be in business very much longer, rest assure this is one of very few legitimate companies out there…do your research and you’ll see. You can actually correspond with actual inventors who’ve gotten their products in retail stores with the help from EN…name me any other company that offers that, and I’ll be the first to check them out.

When you are over your trust issues EN will be here for you.