Doc Holliday Posted January 18, 2017 Report Share Posted January 18, 2017 I've had this idea for a while and is for a device in my line of work that I'm sure would be a good seller. The only issue I have is I don't know how to get the ball rolling, having had ideas pinched/copied/stolen previously I find it hard to entrust things to individuals or even businesses. Basically, I need an electronics company to make me something which, I would imagine in their terms, would be quite simple. I also need another company that would need to supply me with something in addition to this but this would be a lot less involved but something I would still need as a separate item to the electronic part. I did speak to an intellectual property lawyer some years back about getting it patented but she said it couldn't be done as these were items that were in use in other areas and a patent wouldn't protect it. It turns out that patents tend to get by-passed anyway as they're only effective to the country they're registered in and that someone could easily go to another country and get them to manufacture it. Ok, I could look at a worldwide patent but then it starts getting really stupidly expensive. Any help and/or suggestions most welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toxo Posted January 19, 2017 Report Share Posted January 19, 2017 That's wrong information. As far as I recall you can use known components for a unique new purpose and get the IP rights. Else you couldn't invent anything electronic because you didn't invent the resistor. You can go some way to protect your invention by getting designers/manufacturers to sign confidentiality agreements and using more than one company so no-one gets the whole idea of your invention. It's surprising what you can get patents for but at the end of the day, if a big company rips off your idea, do you have the resources to fight them? Depending on the invention, one way is to get it out there first in volume with lots of advertising. Buyers will always lean toward the first one on the market. A bit like - I don't want any old workmate - I want a Black and Decker workmate or - I don't want any old sauce - I want Reggae Reggae Sauce. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted January 19, 2017 Report Share Posted January 19, 2017 Being ripped off is an almost insurmountable problem these days. Theoretically you can protect yourself through the courts but that takes time and money and that's if you can find them. People can hide on the internet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twistedsanity Posted January 19, 2017 Report Share Posted January 19, 2017 Whatever you patent will be hijacked in China and sold on ebay if there is any money in it and you will be stuffed. I know of a decent little electronics Company who are 100% trustworthy and will not stuff you but if you are that concerned a simple Nda will suffice. You can patent anything if you have the money. I know of a Company who patented an electrolysis machine which is a process as old as the hills and the machine was a direct copy of one I made and sold them and Gw pharmaceutical have managed to patent cannabis . If you can patent a plant that is millions of years old then the world of patents is indeed your proverbial lobster rodders. If your idea is a good one the best suggestion is get an investor on board who has deep pockets and knows about marketing protection of your idea, they will probably want a large portion of your idea but 49% of something is better than 100% of nothing. Big business has become a game of deep pockets and the one with the deepest pockets usually wins the prize Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted January 19, 2017 Report Share Posted January 19, 2017 Whatever you patent will be hijacked in China and sold on ebay if there is any money in it and you will be stuffed. I know of a decent little electronics Company who are 100% trustworthy and will not stuff you but if you are that concerned a simple Nda will suffice. You can patent anything if you have the money. I know of a Company who patented an electrolysis machine which is a process as old as the hills and the machine was a direct copy of one I made and sold them and Gw pharmaceutical have managed to patent cannabis . If you can patent a plant that is millions of years old then the world of patents is indeed your proverbial lobster rodders. If your idea is a good one the best suggestion is get an investor on board who has deep pockets and knows about marketing protection of your idea, they will probably want a large portion of your idea but 49% of something is better than 100% of nothing. Big business has become a game of deep pockets and the one with the deepest pockets usually wins the prize Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lord_seagrave Posted January 19, 2017 Report Share Posted January 19, 2017 YHPM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twistedsanity Posted January 19, 2017 Report Share Posted January 19, 2017 I can personally recommend these guys if you need to ask about the electronics manufacturing side http://www.multielectronics.co.uk/ they have done work for me before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrowningB525 Posted January 19, 2017 Report Share Posted January 19, 2017 Have parts made by different manufacturers. It reduces the likelihood of things being ripped off as say someone from the manufacturer shares the design. It's for a single circuit board instead of the entire widget. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toxo Posted January 19, 2017 Report Share Posted January 19, 2017 There are some non sharks out there. One fishing tackle manufacturer took a friends basic idea, gave him a lump sum, used their resources to change it for the better and still gave him full royalties on the sales. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wymondley Posted January 19, 2017 Report Share Posted January 19, 2017 Many employment contracts have a clause that states that anything you might "discover" or "invent" during the course of your work becomes the property of the company. Depends what you do and how related this is to your job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twistedsanity Posted January 19, 2017 Report Share Posted January 19, 2017 Many employment contracts have a clause that states that anything you might "discover" or "invent" during the course of your work becomes the property of the company. Depends what you do and how related this is to your job. a very valid point indeed, stuff developed or ideas may well be deemed the ip of the company you are working for if it is slightly related Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wandringstar Posted January 19, 2017 Report Share Posted January 19, 2017 there is no substitute for a quality product, made from quality materials, by quality people, no-one can rip that off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDAV Posted January 19, 2017 Report Share Posted January 19, 2017 Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wb123 Posted January 19, 2017 Report Share Posted January 19, 2017 A mate works in taking ideas to production prototypes for a local company. He does most of his work for the company but also takes private contracts occasionally. I can put you in touch if you like, he works around Salisbury. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Holliday Posted January 19, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2017 Thank you for all the replies guys. As I work for myself I don't think rights to IP will be an issue. It's having the right contacts and the knowledge how to take this forward without it being hoodwinked by another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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