selling a product idea

[mooseman]

Have any of you guys and gals ever sold a product idea to a manufacturer ?
If so would you care to share your experience with me?
Thanks
mooseman

[Get Shirts]

No experience here, but I would assume you should patent it first.

[mooseman]

Unfortunately I am too old and too broke to drop 10 to 15 K on a patent.
mooseman

[Prosperi-Tees]

Have you looked into what it would take to get a prototype? Wait im assuming its a physical object

[Gilligan]

Look into "patent pending".

[GaryG]

As I always say, Screen Printers are tinkerers.
Have a dozen ideas, but having time is another issue.

Just came across this tonight by the way:

Patent It Yourself book. May take some funds, but it's a start.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/087337469X/entrepreneurcom

Enjoy~

[blue moon]

Look into "patent pending".

this! few hundred will buy you protection for a year (or two, don't remember how long exactly). You can go and talk to somebody and if they try to steal it you have some legal ground to stand on.

pierre

[dirkdiggler]

We created a brand once that we didn't want stolen from and us and our lawyer told us to document our brand then take it to the post office and mail it back to ourselves.  When it came back with the postal markings and date, NEVER open it.  Wait till you need it in court and let the judge open it.   Don't know how well that stands, but it was a lawyers advice.

[blue moon]

We created a brand once that we didn't want stolen from and us and our lawyer told us to document our brand then take it to the post office and mail it back to ourselves.  When it came back with the postal markings and date, NEVER open it.  Wait till you need it in court and let the judge open it.   Don't know how well that stands, but it was a lawyers advice.

My understanding is that does not work.

[Gilligan]

We created a brand once that we didn't want stolen from and us and our lawyer told us to document our brand then take it to the post office and mail it back to ourselves.  When it came back with the postal markings and date, NEVER open it.  Wait till you need it in court and let the judge open it.   Don't know how well that stands, but it was a lawyers advice.

My understanding is that does not work.

Poor mans copyright.

I have also heard this isn't worth poop.

[mooseman]

Unfortunately the risk, when exposing an idea to say somebody like Ford or GM, is the confirmation of value of the idea with the corporate statement of  ..."Oh, we have been working on that idea for some time now".

Translation is..... great idea thanks for the innovation have a nice day!  The only recourse is the David vs Goliath battle, and a stacked deck because deep pockets and large legal departments will always win through attrition. They know if an idea had the $$ behind it, it  would never show up on their door step with a lets make a deal price tag.
Just FYI the idea I am trying to cast a safety net around has absolutely nothing to do with our screen printing industry.

mooseman 

[244]

Unfortunately the risk, when exposing an idea to say somebody like Ford or GM, is the confirmation of value of the idea with the corporate statement of  ..."Oh, we have been working on that idea for some time now".

Translation is..... great idea thanks for the innovation have a nice day!  The only recourse is the David vs Goliath battle, and a stacked deck because deep pockets and large legal departments will always win through attrition. They know if an idea had the $$ behind it, it  would never show up on their door step with a lets make a deal price tag.
Just FYI the idea I am trying to cast a safety net around has absolutely nothing to do with our screen printing industry.

mooseman

request that whoever you want to share the idea with sign a letter of confidentiality. We have a standard one that we use as most people don't know how to write one. Send me a e mail and I will be happy to  send you a copy. Second like a marriage make sure who it is in the industry you are dealing with. You may be attached to them for a long time so make sure it's someone you can live with.

[mooseman]

Unfortunately the risk, when exposing an idea to say somebody like Ford or GM, is the confirmation of value of the idea with the corporate statement of  ..."Oh, we have been working on that idea for some time now".

Translation is..... great idea thanks for the innovation have a nice day!  The only recourse is the David vs Goliath battle, and a stacked deck because deep pockets and large legal departments will always win through attrition. They know if an idea had the $$ behind it, it  would never show up on their door step with a lets make a deal price tag.
Just FYI the idea I am trying to cast a safety net around has absolutely nothing to do with our screen printing industry.

mooseman

Thanks 244, Unfortunately (based on legal advice) such a letter just means they'll not disclose or discuss the issue, claiming it as their own because "they were already working on it" is completely unrelated.

mooseman

request that whoever you want to share the idea with sign a letter of confidentiality. We have a standard one that we use as most people don't know how to write one. Send me a e mail and I will be happy to  send you a copy. Second like a marriage make sure who it is in the industry you are dealing with. You may be attached to them for a long time so make sure it's someone you can live with.