Selling an idea...

livinitup0 · #1 01-21-2007, 11:03 PM

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?

Sniper · #2 01-21-2007, 11:25 PM

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.

Frinkenstein · #3 01-22-2007, 04:11 AM

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

[ QUOTE ]
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)

[/ QUOTE ]

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.

Sniper · #4 01-22-2007, 04:46 AM

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

Frinkenstein · #5 01-22-2007, 05:02 AM

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.

livinitup0 · #6 01-22-2007, 10:30 AM

[ QUOTE ]
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.

[/ QUOTE ]

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.

Sniper · #7 01-22-2007, 03:16 PM

[ QUOTE ]
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.

[/ QUOTE ]

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...