Selling an idea...
 

If I came up with a really great idea for a product, but had no way to manufacture or advertise it, how would one go about selling the idea for big bucks to a large corporation?

Re: Selling an idea...
 

The specific path is going to depend somewhat on the product, but as a general rule, your idea must be "patentable" and you should have at least "patent pending" status, before going thru any process of contacting manufacturers via an agent or broker... and in order to make a reasonable presentation, you will have to do some research and market analysis, etc.

Re: Selling an idea...
 

Keep in mind that you cannot get a patent on "an idea". It must be something that "works" for the purpose it is intended for.

From: http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/sc_mrksv/c...ng/tell4-3.htm

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You cannot patent an idea, but you can patent the concrete expression of an idea. For example, you cannot patent a scientific principle, an abstract theory, a way of doing business or a medical treatment.

On the other hand, if you have invented a new kind of spray bottle you could patent:
-the bottle itself (a product)
-a chemical in the plastic (chemical composition)·
-the spraying mechanism (an apparatus)
-how you extruded the plastic (a process)

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So, if OP has a great idea, but no way to manufacture it or advertise it, he is not likely to get any sort of compensation for disclosing his idea.

Re: Selling an idea...
 

Frink, he stated in OP that his idea was a "Product" [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Re: Selling an idea...
 

right, but he also said he can't manufacture it... if he can't create/manufacture his product, he won't be able to patent it as far as I can tell.

Seems doubtful that he'll be able to sell just his idea to any company. But, it'd be cool if he could.

Re: Selling an idea...
 

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right, but he also said he can't manufacture it... if he can't create/manufacture his product, he won't be able to patent it as far as I can tell.

Seems doubtful that he'll be able to sell just his idea to any company. But, it'd be cool if he could.

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The product "can" be manufactured. What I meant was is that I have no idea how to go about doing this. I could draw out blueprints of it, but outside that im not sure where to go. The technology behind it has been out for several years....its basically just putting it into a different type of casing/packaging and marketing it for a completely different purpose.

Re: Selling an idea...
 

There are a zillion companies like this on the web.

Re: Selling an idea...
 

I am, in no way, qualified to make these statements, but here it my understanding:

"The product "can" be manufactured. What I meant was is that I have no idea how to go about doing this."

Here's problem #1. You can't go around patenting things without being able to, at least, design them. I can't patent a more fuel efficient car engine, and then wait for someone who actually knows how to build it to buy the patent from me.

"The technology behind it has been out for several years....its basically just putting it into a different type of casing/packaging and marketing it for a completely different purpose."

In cases like I think you're describing, the patent is for the technology, not how it's packaged/marketed. So, you're not likely to be able to take ownership of finding a new use for something. Silly example - I can't patent a hair-dryer as a "freezer defrosting device."

Re: Selling an idea...
 

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right, but he also said he can't manufacture it... if he can't create/manufacture his product, he won't be able to patent it as far as I can tell.

Seems doubtful that he'll be able to sell just his idea to any company. But, it'd be cool if he could.

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Frink, a patent application is a document... not a physical product review [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

If he can patent the "product"... then he can take the design to a "manufacturer" and try to license/sell it to them... and which point, they will actually manufacture it, if they come to an agreement.

Of course, the process in dealing with a manufacturer may go smoother if you actually have a prototype... and as you would expect, there are companies that focus on this type of stuff. There's likely an Agent/Broker involved, etc.

Here's an example patent abstract...

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/954/patent17jx.jpg

Re: Selling an idea...
 

I think there is quite a bit of confusion here. To OP - as I understand it, you are saying that you have a product, but you personally don't know how to manufacture it. This is unsurprising and understandable. I am no patent attorney, but I can tell you what I have come to understand from my engineering classes. If you can make drawings of the product and describe in general how it is made/how it works, then you can try to patent it. You do not have to actually have a prototype in order to patent a product. It just needs to be theoretically possible. In one of my classes, we are pursuing a patent like this; we have built a very basic prototype for our own testing purposes, but it is far from a working model. However, we have proved that the concepts will work, and are filing a provisional patent on the mechanism and primary use. Once the patent is filed, we will contact companies who wish to pursue manufacturing. As I understand it, this is common. Writing a patent is pretty tricky though, and you'd be best served by hiring a patent attorney to help you with the process, because there are a LOT of ways to get your patent accidently invalidated. If you are in school, then you may have an IP office that can help you with this sort of thing. Good luck.

~M^2

Re: Selling an idea...
 

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right, but he also said he can't manufacture it... if he can't create/manufacture his product, he won't be able to patent it as far as I can tell.

Seems doubtful that he'll be able to sell just his idea to any company. But, it'd be cool if he could.

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Frink, a patent application is a document... not a physical product review [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

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Sure, a patent application is a document. I'm not exaclty sure what you're getting at here.

At any rate, I am still maintaining that the OP cannot patent an idea that he has in his head. He will need some sort of physical expression of his idea.

Source: http://www.ipwatchdog.com/protect_idea.html
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Unfortunately, despite what you may have heard, there is absolutely no way to protect an idea through intellectual property law. Copyright protects expression and patent law protects inventions, and neither protect ideas. In both cases the idea is the first critical step, but without an embodiement there can be no intellectual property protection.

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My poking around the internets has indicated that you pretty much need a working prototype of the "product" before it can be patented. Or, at the very least, OP will need detailed designs/specifications.

Also, OP mentioned that his product is adapting an existing technology for a different purpose. As another poster has pointed out, this will may make patenting his product impossible. Although we are given no specifics about the idea so who's to say for sure?

This is also a good read: article
However, the article is quite pessimistic towards OP's chances of selling his product patent to a company.

Re: Selling an idea...
 

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The technology behind it has been out for several years....its basically just putting it into a different type of casing/packaging and marketing it for a completely different purpose.

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I'm certainly no expert on patents, but it doesn't sound to me like your idea will be patentable. But, without specifics it's tough to say for sure. I'd suggest you talk to a patent lawyer and ask him/her about the patentability of your product. If it's possible to patent your idea/product, he can also tell you what you need to do in order to get your idea into a state that is patentable.

Re: Selling an idea...
 

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The technology behind it has been out for several years....its basically just putting it into a different type of casing/packaging and marketing it for a completely different purpose.

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I'm certainly no expert on patents, but it doesn't sound to me like your idea will be patentable. But, without specifics it's tough to say for sure. I'd suggest you talk to a patent lawyer and ask him/her about the patentability of your product. If it's possible to patent your idea/product, he can also tell you what you need to do in order to get your idea into a state that is patentable.

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Im confused....for example:
Ive seen hundreds of different companies that make those small, buisness card-sized calculators...how do they all manufacture the same product with a different name on them?
Same with office supplies, blank CD's ...ect.

Re: Selling an idea...
 

That's a good question... I don't know the answer to that.

Re: Selling an idea...
 

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Im confused....for example:
Ive seen hundreds of different companies that make those small, buisness card-sized calculators...how do they all manufacture the same product with a different name on them?
Same with office supplies, blank CD's ...ect.

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In some cases, the product is actually manufactured by the same company, but "white labeled" with the different Marketing companies brands... in this case the marketers may even provide the option for the buying company to have their name on the product (you see alot of giveaways that work this way).

The process from Idea -> Market is generally complex with alot of middlemen, each taking their piece of the pie.

Re: Selling an idea...
 

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My poking around the internets has indicated that you pretty much need a working prototype of the "product" before it can be patented. Or, at the very least, OP will need detailed designs/specifications.

Also, OP mentioned that his product is adapting an existing technology for a different purpose. As another poster has pointed out, this will may make patenting his product impossible. Although we are given no specifics about the idea so who's to say for sure?

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The key is the design specs... however, I agree with you that the patent process is complicated and a lawyer familar with the process is absolutely essential.

As for the product, if you look at the patent I posted... you will see that it is basically for a pen (or more specifically, a specific way for a pen to work) [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Selling an idea...
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
My poking around the internets has indicated that you pretty much need a working prototype of the "product" before it can be patented. Or, at the very least, OP will need detailed designs/specifications.

Also, OP mentioned that his product is adapting an existing technology for a different purpose. As another poster has pointed out, this will may make patenting his product impossible. Although we are given no specifics about the idea so who's to say for sure?

[/ QUOTE ]

The key is the design specs... however, I agree with you that the patent process is complicated and a lawyer familar with the process is absolutely essential.

As for the product, if you look at the patent I posted... you will see that it is basically for a pen (or more specifically, a specific way for a pen to work) [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

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Has my ticket number come up on the Sniper PM line yet? [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Selling an idea...
 

I think I have a pretty sound product. I gaurantee it would cost next to nothing to manufacture. 75% of the world could and probably "should" use a product like this. It could be huge if marketed right....but....I dont have the experience, knowledge, money or honestly the time to make this a full time endevour.
I guess what Im saying is....I need a partner....or at least some way to ask direct questions about my ideas without running the risk of divulging too much about my product idea to the public.

Any ideas?