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I have an idea, now what?

Former Member

I hope this discussion is in the correction place

 

I have an idea to improve/develop an existing technology. I do not want to start a business to provide it to the market. So what can I do? Pitch and sell it to existing business/company?


I also have an idea for an invention, again, in this case what can I do? I do not want to start up a business so do I pitch it? Pitch it to who?

 

(I am aware ideas have to be very excellent to be of value - these questions are somewhat hypothetical)

Parents
  • 0

    Hi Seb,

     

    First, fully document your idea and have the date notorized.  That gets your date of discovery documented.  It also gets you a copyright on the documentation and aspects of your idea.  A copyright gives you limited protection, but it is better then nothing.

     

    Your next step depends upon you.  Do you want to develop the idea into a product or are you willing to just sell the rights to the idea to someone who will patent the idea?

     

    Either way, I would look around the web and check with any businesses you trust about a idea development company.  You will probably have to pay them, but they can give your idea a look over and advise you on your next best step. 

     

    Going the patent route can be expensive.

    Shopping your idea to other business puts you at risk for IP theft.

     

    Another path is to make your idea part of the Open Sources movement.  This route opens the door for collaboration with others interested in your idea and could lead to financing to develop the idea into a product within the Open Source community.

     

    I hope this guidance helps.

    DAB

Reply
  • 0

    Hi Seb,

     

    First, fully document your idea and have the date notorized.  That gets your date of discovery documented.  It also gets you a copyright on the documentation and aspects of your idea.  A copyright gives you limited protection, but it is better then nothing.

     

    Your next step depends upon you.  Do you want to develop the idea into a product or are you willing to just sell the rights to the idea to someone who will patent the idea?

     

    Either way, I would look around the web and check with any businesses you trust about a idea development company.  You will probably have to pay them, but they can give your idea a look over and advise you on your next best step. 

     

    Going the patent route can be expensive.

    Shopping your idea to other business puts you at risk for IP theft.

     

    Another path is to make your idea part of the Open Sources movement.  This route opens the door for collaboration with others interested in your idea and could lead to financing to develop the idea into a product within the Open Source community.

     

    I hope this guidance helps.

    DAB

Children
  • 0 in reply to DAB

    DAB wrote:

     

    First, fully document your idea and have the date notorized.  That gets your date of discovery documented.  It also gets you a copyright on the documentation and aspects of your idea.  A copyright gives you limited protection, but it is better then nothing.

    This used to be good advice but (IANAL) I believe this changes radically on 16 March 2013 when the US Patent system changes from "first to invent" to "first to file" under the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act signed September 16, 2011 -- assuming the act isn't overturned as unconstitutional.  Under "first to file", it doesn't matter who invented something first -- it's who's first to file the patent application that gets the patent.  If you keep your idea secret and only notarize it, someone else could file a patent and you are SOL unless you apply before 16 March 2013.  This includes talking to anyone, especially venture capitalists.

     

    IANAL, but here's my understanding: if you publish your idea that prevents anyone else from patenting it, because your idea becomes prior art as soon as it's published.  Under the Act, you as the inventor get a grace period of one year to file your patent application.  After that, nobody can patent the idea, not even you.  I believe you can publish your idea anywhere and it's copyrighted the moment you write it down, but it's a good idea to register the copyright to establish the date of publication officially.  Last time I looked a USA copyright was US$35 per work for an on-line application, and the process is pretty simple.

     

    Follow the Wikipedia link for more information, but for real legal advice you'll need to consult a patent lawyer.

  • 0 in reply to johnbeetem

    Hi John,

     

    I have been out of the industry for about ten years, so I was not aware of the newest legislation.

    Getting your documentation together is important in either case, especially if you plan to shop the idea around.

    A notorised date can still be useful, especially if you go to court and can show a fixed date followed by any meeting date with someone who has tried to usurp your idea.  Regardless of the law, a jury will have much sympathy for a documented date.

     

    I agree with the idea of publishing the idea in open media.  Yes you share the idea, or at least part of it, and you might catch the interest of a company of private group who want to market the idea of an application using the idea.

     

    Either way, capitalizing on your ideas is a dicey proposition in todays world.

     

    Thanks

    DAB