I have a good idea at DVinfo.net

Joel Ruggiero · November 3rd, 2003, 10:29 PM

OK in school I get quite board. So I day dream about video all day. ( and still get good grades) but a couple of days ago I thought of a very good idea. I really don't want to tell any one cause someone might steal it. It would be quite convenient for all of us and I am for sure it has not been thought of or if it has it hasn't been done yet. Does any one know how I could summits this idea to a company without getting shafted. I would like to get something out of it if it ever happened. Well, I might have pipe dreams but I think this idea would be a good one. Does any one know how you would go about this??

Bryan Beasleigh · November 3rd, 2003, 10:39 PM

Joel
Your amongst friends, tell us , we won't mention it to a soul.

Ken Tanaka · November 3rd, 2003, 11:22 PM

What is the nature of this "good idea"? A film? A television series? A new internal combustion engine?

Also, are you an adult or a minor?

Chris Hurd · November 3rd, 2003, 11:27 PM

Put it in writing. Write it down in detail for yourself, right away.

Ideas are not property. Ideas can't be protected. Something in writing *is* property, and can be protected by copyright.

Michael Wisniewski · November 4th, 2003, 01:27 AM

You could talk to a lawyer ... that would be a good idea.

Paul Tauger · November 4th, 2003, 01:44 AM

The standard way to protect an idea is have whomever you're submitting it to sign a non-disclosure agreement (usually called an NDA). Of course, you'll still need some kind of proof that the idea you're pitching is your own.

Also, you don't say what state you live in. California has fairly good idea-protection laws. Basically, if you disclose an idea in the context of a business meeting in which the usual expectation would be that you'd be compensated if the idea was used, you'd be able to sue for the fair-market value of the idea if it is used without your permission.

Of course, everything depends on the idea.

As Chris mentioned, copyright protects only the expression of ideas, but not the ideas themselves. If your idea is an invention or a process, you may be able to protect it with a patent, though that is the most difficult and expensive intellectual property to obtain.

Joel Ruggiero · November 4th, 2003, 11:45 AM

ok i am a minor (17) and i live in ny. The ideas to do with editing. I just want to sumbit it to like mac or like sony and maybe get a little somethig out of it.

Nick Kerpchar · November 4th, 2003, 03:33 PM

Joel,
First, follow Chris Hurd's suggestion. Second, you can write to the major companies to ask what their process is for receiving product ideas from outside of the company (don't tell them about your idea, just ask for the procedure). Third, pay more attention in class, "submit" is not spelled, "summits".

Good luck. Nick

Joel Ruggiero · November 4th, 2003, 04:09 PM

sorry thats the stupid spell check

Nick Kerpchar · November 5th, 2003, 03:59 AM

Joel,
Roger the spell checker. Good luck with marketing your idea.

Nick

Ed Smith · November 8th, 2003, 03:20 PM

Joel,

As Chris has said write it down on paper. But to be double sure you can do the pormans copyright protect, by posting it to yourself, that way it will get a post mark and a date that has been varified by a 3rd party. BUT DON'T OPEN IT!!!

Please tell...

Ed

Joel Ruggiero · November 9th, 2003, 07:05 PM

i might post it after i talk to mac to see what there policies are.

Paul Tauger · November 9th, 2003, 08:00 PM

Whoa . . . hold on there!

Ideas are not protected by copyright. In fact, ideas are not protected at all, unless they are an invention or process that is new, novel and non-obvious and been reduced to practice, in which case they are protectable as patent (if registered), or are disclosed only in the context of a non-disclosure agreement.

The so-called poor man's copyright (which isn't, and is merely one form of proof of creation), or a real copyright registration, will NOT protect the idea. Do NOT post it, unless you want to lose it.

If you want to know about this, drop me an e-mail. Talking to me would be subject to attorney/client privilege, i.e. I couldn't disclose it to anyone. I don't charge anyone on dvinfo.net for a casual (and non-binding) inquiry.

Paul, Esq.

Kevin King · November 13th, 2003, 11:09 PM

It depends how much you stand to make and how much you really believe in the idea. If you're quite sure it will contribute to the next 20 million dollar product by Mac, it's worth protecting.

You need to speak to a lawyer experienced in copyright law. You're probably best to research your idea further over the next year until you turn 18, that way you can enter into your own legal agreements if you proceed.

Can you prototype your idea? Or is it just a "what if they built software that did such and such"? If you can write the software or prototype it yourself then you can own the copyright and sell it to whoever.

Get a lawyer for starters. :)

Joel Ruggiero · November 14th, 2003, 11:09 AM

its actually hardware not software

November 3rd, 2003, 10:29 PM	#1
Joel Ruggiero Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Buffalo,NY Posts: 167	?I have a good idea? OK in school I get quite board. So I day dream about video all day. ( and still get good grades) but a couple of days ago I thought of a very good idea. I really don't want to tell any one cause someone might steal it. It would be quite convenient for all of us and I am for sure it has not been thought of or if it has it hasn't been done yet. Does any one know how I could summits this idea to a company without getting shafted. I would like to get something out of it if it ever happened. Well, I might have pipe dreams but I think this idea would be a good one. Does any one know how you would go about this??

November 3rd, 2003, 11:22 PM	#3
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	What is the nature of this "good idea"? A film? A television series? A new internal combustion engine? Also, are you an adult or a minor? __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

November 3rd, 2003, 11:27 PM	#4
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Put it in writing. Write it down in detail for yourself, right away. Ideas are not property. Ideas can't be protected. Something in writing is property, and can be protected by copyright. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

November 4th, 2003, 01:27 AM	#5
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	You could talk to a lawyer ... that would be a good idea. __________________ "Ultimately, the most extraordinary thing, in a frame, is a human being." - Martin Scorsese

November 8th, 2003, 03:20 PM	#11
Ed Smith Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hampshire, England Posts: 1,545	Joel, As Chris has said write it down on paper. But to be double sure you can do the pormans copyright protect, by posting it to yourself, that way it will get a post mark and a date that has been varified by a 3rd party. BUT DON'T OPEN IT!!! Please tell... Ed __________________ Ed Smith Hampshire, UK Good things come to those who wait My Skiing web www.Frostytour.co.uk For quick answers Search dvinfo.net \| The best in the business: dvinfo.net Sponsors

November 3rd, 2003, 10:39 PM	#2
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	Joel Your amongst friends, tell us , we won't mention it to a soul.

November 4th, 2003, 01:44 AM	#6
Paul Tauger Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Los Angeles (recently from San Francisco) Posts: 954	The standard way to protect an idea is have whomever you're submitting it to sign a non-disclosure agreement (usually called an NDA). Of course, you'll still need some kind of proof that the idea you're pitching is your own. Also, you don't say what state you live in. California has fairly good idea-protection laws. Basically, if you disclose an idea in the context of a business meeting in which the usual expectation would be that you'd be compensated if the idea was used, you'd be able to sue for the fair-market value of the idea if it is used without your permission. Of course, everything depends on the idea. As Chris mentioned, copyright protects only the expression of ideas, but not the ideas themselves. If your idea is an invention or a process, you may be able to protect it with a patent, though that is the most difficult and expensive intellectual property to obtain.

November 4th, 2003, 11:45 AM	#7
Joel Ruggiero Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Buffalo,NY Posts: 167	ok i am a minor (17) and i live in ny. The ideas to do with editing. I just want to sumbit it to like mac or like sony and maybe get a little somethig out of it.

November 4th, 2003, 03:33 PM	#8
Nick Kerpchar Major Player Join Date: May 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 211	Joel, First, follow Chris Hurd's suggestion. Second, you can write to the major companies to ask what their process is for receiving product ideas from outside of the company (don't tell them about your idea, just ask for the procedure). Third, pay more attention in class, "submit" is not spelled, "summits". Good luck. Nick

November 4th, 2003, 04:09 PM	#9
Joel Ruggiero Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Buffalo,NY Posts: 167	sorry thats the stupid spell check

November 5th, 2003, 03:59 AM	#10
Nick Kerpchar Major Player Join Date: May 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 211	Joel, Roger the spell checker. Good luck with marketing your idea. Nick

November 9th, 2003, 07:05 PM	#12
Joel Ruggiero Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Buffalo,NY Posts: 167	i might post it after i talk to mac to see what there policies are.

November 9th, 2003, 08:00 PM	#13
Paul Tauger Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Los Angeles (recently from San Francisco) Posts: 954	Whoa . . . hold on there! Ideas are not protected by copyright. In fact, ideas are not protected at all, unless they are an invention or process that is new, novel and non-obvious and been reduced to practice, in which case they are protectable as patent (if registered), or are disclosed only in the context of a non-disclosure agreement. The so-called poor man's copyright (which isn't, and is merely one form of proof of creation), or a real copyright registration, will NOT protect the idea. Do NOT post it, unless you want to lose it. If you want to know about this, drop me an e-mail. Talking to me would be subject to attorney/client privilege, i.e. I couldn't disclose it to anyone. I don't charge anyone on dvinfo.net for a casual (and non-binding) inquiry. Paul, Esq.

November 13th, 2003, 11:09 PM	#14
Kevin King Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 88	It depends how much you stand to make and how much you really believe in the idea. If you're quite sure it will contribute to the next 20 million dollar product by Mac, it's worth protecting. You need to speak to a lawyer experienced in copyright law. You're probably best to research your idea further over the next year until you turn 18, that way you can enter into your own legal agreements if you proceed. Can you prototype your idea? Or is it just a "what if they built software that did such and such"? If you can write the software or prototype it yourself then you can own the copyright and sell it to whoever. Get a lawyer for starters. :)

November 14th, 2003, 11:09 AM	#15
Joel Ruggiero Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Buffalo,NY Posts: 167	its actually hardware not software