Share0
Tweet0
Share0
Share0
Tweet0
Share0

Can I assure my idea won’t be stolen (without a patent)?

First of all, I will say that I am a student, and as such, I can’t afford the time or the money to create a patent on my idea, which is not fully original anyhow. (I will have to spend lots of time and money just figuring out if my idea is patent-able)

I’ll explain it briefly- I thought of a great idea with a moderate potential market, but a great value to the users. The idea is bascially taking idea A+B+C, which already exist. The ideas even exist together, say A+B is already in use, and C is used in same context but not along with A+B currently. My idea is not reflected in these softwares+hardware that is already in use/partial use. Without taking my aspect into account and tweaking and developing minor applications, the current products don’t see my “users” as potentional buyers, or target audience of these products at all, because the product is useless to this group at its current state. The product has no value to my audience at this point.

These A,B,C ideas are all implemented in huge corporations such as google and apple, in one way or another. My idea isn’t really an invention like a lightbulb or something of that sort, but it combines these several aspects in order to form something that isn’t currently on the market.

(I hope you understood me, I even confused myself I guess).

What I am asking is- if I am approaching these huge firms, and suggest my idea, which relies on a technology they own and use in some form, is there any real chance of it developing into a deal between me and the company, about my idea? Are they able to just tell me good bye, and implement it themselves the month after, without me having anything to do about it?

Even if they are interested, and there are some negotiations, does anything protect me from them ditching me down the road and taking the idea as one of their own, without me getting an appropriate compensation for that?

Are there any actions I could use prior to these discussions with the biggest firms on planet earth (also, how do I even contant the right person within the firms to discuss my ideas?), to protect me?

 

Thanks

  • There is 0.00001 chance you will get a deal for an idea from established companies, unless you’ve done it before and made people a lot of money.

    Chances are they’ve already thought of it to, and for whatever market reason don’t want to pursue it.

    If you believe in it, build it, and get users.

    Reply

  • Here’s a business idea. Get a summer job to pay for getting a patent on your business process. Talk to the big companies about licensing your patent.

    Reply

  • I have a similar question, but I don’t want to suggest it, I want to make it. But the problem is similar, becouse these companies could develop it even if it’s mine, simply because I don’t have the ability to grow fast enough, and then they can clone it quickly,

    Reply

    • You can file a provisional patent application for $135 and you’ll get protection for 1 year until you file the real application. Most of the time its a waste of money, but may be valuable to get investors.

      The tech space is brutal, its all about speed, nobody cares about IP protection. So you’re right, someone else could steal your lunch if they’re fast enough.

      However your competitors wouldn’t be the large companies. They’re usually slow as hell. Your threat are those ycombinator youngsters who can outcode/outexecute you because they’re part of some powerful accelerator network.

      Reply

      • Yes, you’re right! The real answer to this truble is to create a good company, fast enough. It means to create a huge community of potential users even before to start it. I live in Europe, and this is dramatically difficult counting that major competitors would be in USA…I have to create an american communty too (this app would be something ‘social’, that would produce a useful service potentially required before offering it), and maintaining the tone of voice not too high. I need too much money and ‘friends’…too much things for my humble introvertia. But maybe not for my dreams.

        Reply

  • OK

    a) You CAN apply for a patent if A+B exists and C exists and you do A+B+C as long as its not obvious to combine all three. The bar to get a patent is pretty low, but the bar to get a protectable patent is high (ie. many patents get invalidated after the fact).

    b) Companies will not pay you to suggest “ideas” to them. There is one caveat some companies such as toy/concept companies will pay for your ideas because they’re fad based but if you’re talking about tech companies, then no.

    Reply

    • I have the exact “problem” described in this topic: it’s the mix that makes the idea great, but the individual ingredients already exist.

      a) So what can the “first” patent do for a startup? (Is it useless if its doesn’t protect the idea?)

      b) I live in Holland; is the patent valid in other countries?

      Reply

  • Nobody buys ideas. Everybody has ideas, there is no market for this. Only products, companies, user bases have value.

    If you have an idea (like billion people have everyday), you can make money with it only if you make a product or a company. The idea alone has no marketable value.

    Will you have to compete with large companies ? Probably not. With other startups ? Maybe, maybe not. You have to figure out how you can make it without too much competition. But if you don’t want to do anything, just sell an idea, you should forget it. If you still want to try, read this, it is extremely clear:

    http://www.apple.com/legal/intellectual-property/policies/ideas.html

    I think you can find the same legal advice on any big company website.

    Reply

  • … [Trackback]

    […] There you will find 33002 more Information to that Topic: startupsanonymous.com/question/can-assure-idea-wont-stolen-without-patent/ […]

    Reply

  • … [Trackback]

    […] There you can find 15243 additional Information on that Topic: startupsanonymous.com/question/can-assure-idea-wont-stolen-without-patent/ […]

    Reply

  • … [Trackback]

    […] Here you can find 50428 additional Information on that Topic: startupsanonymous.com/question/can-assure-idea-wont-stolen-without-patent/ […]

    Reply
    • {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}

    You may also like

    >