Powerplus, the device that can make a car go further and faster and cut pollution, needs protecting if it is to succeed in overseas markets.

The men behind the project, Andrew Niekirk and Rick Bird, met company law specialist Russell Bell to discuss the problems their enterprise could encounter.

Mr Bell, a partner at solicitors asb law, said the directors should consider patenting Powerplus to protect it from imitations.

Powerplus has a history that goes back to the Second World War.

Its fuel enhancement technology will work on any hydrocarbon fuel, petrol, diesel or liquid petroleum gas and it can be fitted in cars, vans, lorries, motor scooters, boats, generators, diggers and tractors.

It has no moving parts but influences the way the fuel is burned to give a better performance.

Mr Bird said: "There are two technologies involved which are combined.

"Their performance together is better than the sum of the two parts. They have a synergy.

"One of the technologies was developed by the Ministry of Defence in the Forties and the other came from Formula One racing, so Powerplus has a good pedigree.

"They were put together by an inventor several years ago but the product didn't take off.

But now with higher fuel charges and a need for cleaner fuels, we feel the time is right.

"The device has a patent in some markets but it is too difficult to police. As far as we are concerned, patents are a total waste of time.

"They are good for investors because it makes them feel better. Sometimes they are good for international distributors.

But you have to depend on the market for your success. You just can't stop patent rip-offs.

"The big markets have not signed the patent agreements anyway so that's a waste of time. It is quite possible to circumnavigate patents.

"With a patent, all you are doing is protecting your idea for a year or two and then the others can come in with their own versions."

Fellow director Andrew Niekirk said they were concentrating their efforts on markets in the Far East and had contracts with distributors that meant the goods did not leave the UK until payment had been received.

They were looking for investment to develop markets.

Mr Niekirk said: "We are looking for a private investor or a group of investors who are prepared to speculate on something a bit unusual."

Mr Bell said there were two ways forward for the firm.

He told Powerplus: "You could get a number of angels on board who will take advantage of tax incentives. There are schemes where they can put money in for a period and get a tax-free capital gain at the end of it.

"There are people prepared to do that even in these tight times.

"The other way is going to the motor or oil industry and seeking companies that would take a stake in the product and enable you to develop markets.

Their ultimate objective would be to tie Powerplus in with their businesses. They would invest because of the opportunities coming out of the relationship.

"Companies like Shell are markets very good at this but, bearing in mind you are saving fuel, they might not be the best one to approach.

"I'm sure many firms would have a budget for involvement in a project like this.

"In the present financial climate, getting a bank to invest would be difficult and private equity would be harder because they are looking for firms with revenues upwards of £1 million to make it attractive and they would expect 30 per cent return on their investment.

"The two things business angels would want to see are that the product works and has protection in place and a successful marketing, finance and production team."

Recently the Powerplus directors spent a month in Malaysia with potential distributors and they expect a major contract to be signed in the next few weeks.

Mr Bird said: "The agents feel confident about us and the product. They feel they can trust us and we feel we can trust them.

"It is only by being able to build up these types of relationships we are going to get into these markets. We've tried dealing with them at a distance before and that does not work as well."

Mr Bell said the directors had the right attitude and he admired the way they had handled the business.

"The potential for Powerplus is huge but there is also a potential for the product to be copied. My advice is to make sure contracts are drawn up in the UK and UK laws are applied."

He told the directors: "You need to know your customers and investors and know what they and you want from any contracts."