Legal Question in Intellectual Property in California
Selling Ideas To Companies
Hello. I keep having great ideas for products/ product improvements for various companies and am trying to find out what ways there are to sell those ideas to companies in a way that they can then only use them if they pay the agreed upon amount. (excluding patents)
If you could advise any way to give my interests legal backup for such negotiations, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you.
3 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Selling Ideas To Companies
Difficult to determine based on the limited facts you have given. If a company is willing to sign one, you could enter into a non-disclosure agreement before you disclose the idea. Also, if the concept is tied to a brand name or artwork, you could file an application to register the brand name as a trademark (on an intent-to-use basis) and also draw out the concept and register the copyright in the artwork. When you present the idea, they could still rip you off, but they would at least have to go a different direction with the brand name and/or artwork. If your price was reasonable, they might just pay you to move forward.
There are potentially a number of things that can be done to protect your interests. If you want to discuss further, please give me a call.
Re: Selling Ideas To Companies
You need a Confidential Non Disclosure Agreement. Trouble is, most smart business people won't sign an NDA with an unknown idea submitter.
It's a catch-22
Re: Selling Ideas To Companies
Most companies are not interested in receiving such ideas. Look into a provisional patent, then market your idea(s).
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