Comments on: Protect Your Ideas

By: Darnell Brownell

Darnell Brownell — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:16:33 +0000

Major thanks for the blog.Really looking forward to read more. Want more.

By: kagiso

kagiso — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:13:08 +0000

i dont it is impossible to make any executive sign a simple confidentiality document before you disclose the idea. basically it could be indicating that the idea is yours and will not be used without your concent. it could be expensive getting a lawyer but surely one can simply draft this kind of document on one’s own. and if executives refusse to sign, simply go to the next company, dont compromise!

By: Q&A: How Do I Sell My Idea to A Big Company?

Q&A: How Do I Sell My Idea to A Big Company? — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:45:28 +0000

[...] recently read your article protect your ideas and I have an idea that I want to protect and want to pitch to a company. I don’t know if I [...]

By: Valentine

Valentine — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 08:29:28 +0000

Thanks for the comments above. Does it make it difference if the idea originated elsewhere in another country and i want to implement it here and we talking instituition like a hospital and i know this will benefit our country and decrease workload.

By: Cobie

Cobie — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:39:18 +0000

Hi. I have a great idea. How do I go about selling this idea.

—-

The quick answer to this is that your idea has no value. The time spent into making your idea into a viable business or marketable product is what is valuable.

By: corona

corona — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 18:04:38 +0000

Thanks James for your amazing comment, its so easy to believe the easy way and not the right way.

By: James

James — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 07:29:26 +0000

If you feel you have an idea with no way of implementing it yourself and it isn’t something easily protected through normal channels, talk to a lawyer! Many lawyers will be willing to give you some free advice over the phone regarding what they think they can do to help you stay protected. Make sure you contact the appropriate type of lawyer, you don’t want a criminal lawyer for your business idea.

Having a lawyer who is experienced with negotiating business deals could get you somewhere, beyond watching your idea stay with you for the next decade, or be snatched up by the first big business that hears it. A lawyer may be able to work up a deal with a company to view your proposed idea under a type of security blanket, meaning that if they were to use your idea, you would have some legal recourse if they chose to try and push aside the fact that you brought them the idea. Bringing a lawyer to a meeting with a large company also lets them know that you aren’t just someone with an idea, you are someone with an idea who is willing to pay out-of-pocket to try and protect your idea and knows how to use a phone to call a lawyer.

There is no guarantee it will help your specific case, but if you have an idea that you think is great, say for instance one that is related directly to cell phone service and that idea would be extremely prohibitive to use without already being a large cellular phone company, get started by thoroughly documenting your idea in a proper business presentation format and then go see a couple lawyers to find one that you feel will work for you.

I am a bit amazed that this article didn’t have anything about contacting a lawyer. Anytime you have something that you don’t know how to handle and could push into the legal realm, contact a lawyer. Ignore everything in this article, all these comments, and even the portion of my comment that you have already read. Ignore it all and only remember the following sentence…

CONTACT A BUSINESS LAWYER

By: Raju

Raju — Tue, 25 May 2010 19:23:31 +0000

I think a marketing idea can be copyrighted in your country and copyright will be applicable atomatically to every country based on bern convention(i.e No need to copyright in every country).

By: S.

S. — Thu, 13 May 2010 22:42:17 +0000

I think best way to protect your idea is to start it up yourself as the article suggests. Then seek capital for it. Any details needed by bigger companies, then make sure they sign a legal non-disclosure agreement. But before you can get to that consideration point, you need to submit a really outstanding proposal first and it helps even more to know someone in their network. Also remember don’t put everything (like trade secrets, etc) in your introductory proposal, just give them enough to peak their interest (but not enough to steal your idea) so you will have a better chance that they would follow up with you to learn more about your business funding needs.

By: nombulelo

nombulelo — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:44:55 +0000

HI I HAVE AN IDEA THAT I WANT PITCH TO VARIOUS COMPANIES AND I KNOW THAT IS VERY GOOD SO HW DO I GO ABOUT PROTECTING THIS IDEA OF MINE SO THAT IT DOESN’T GET SNATCHED FROM ME
I CURRENTLIY LIVE IN SOUTH AFRICA WHICH INSTITUTIONS SHOULD I GO TO THAT WILL ASSIST ME