Hey BP, I have a question...

[nobozos]

I would like to communicate with you regarding something that I have been working on that you may be interested in, but I want to honor your wishes regarding PM's and other inappropriate communications. I believe that what I have come up with will be an extremely useful accessory for specific guitars, and could be easily and cheaply produced. Is there any way that you could PM me with an official contact for you that I can use?

Thanks.

 

[douglasspears]

not to spoil the surprise, but I caught a picture of nob' with it the other day...

 

[ScreaminFloyd]

Thats cool ! If you are Andre "The Giant"

 

[Big Poppa]

Im not the guy to send it to.....there are a bunch of people in r and d and they like to handle that stuff...First off it has to be more than an idea....it also has to be protected by intellectual property (patent)...If you have that then let me know here and I will steer you to the right person...thanks

 

[nobozos]

Thanks BP. That is kind of the answer that I expected. I was just kind of taking a shot in the dark. My problem is that, at this stage, it is an idea with a successful proof of concept. I could make a prototype in my brother-in-law's machine shop, but my real problem is that I know nothing about the steps involved with obtaining a patent. You see alot of information out there about getting a patent, but you never know if the people are really helping you, or just buying or stealing your idea.

I just really don't even know where to begin. Do I make the prototype, and take a chance on someone seeing it and stealing the idea? Can you even obtain a patent without a prototype?

I guess I was just hoping to pitch you the idea, and you would say, "Gee, suprised nobody has thought of that before. How much do you want for it?" Unrealistic, but I was taking a chance.

Seriously though BP, thanks for your quick reply.

 

[DrKev]

I can tell you from my physics days, that was often a big problem. Patents cost money, selling a good idea costs money, and how do you get that money to do that and prove the concept without telling your investors so much that they just go and do it themselves. But if you don't tell them enough, they're not interested either. Catch-22!

 

[JPSixx]

Getting a patent on something is a hassle but work with a patent attorney if you are in question on the particulars. This will protect you and the intellectual property and give you the best chance of actually taking the idea somewhere. Good luck and I've been in your shoes before...if you feel there is a need for your "idea" it might actually grow in to something much bigger and more prosperous than you expected, but there are no guarantees either.

 

[beej]

No doubt that patents are a hassle. They can be really worthwhile, depending. (I've got 4 applications in the system, I'm at the office action stage with the first one.)

If you have a good idea that patentable, it costs you very little to file an initial application (holds your place for a year while you file the patent). Ideas are kind of a dime a dozen, so odds are, if it's patentable, somebody else probably has already filed something- but you can do a lot of research online to see what's available. Google Patents is a great resource.

I think you're always well advised to prototype any ideas. The prototyping process usually exposes design flaws and helps you really flesh out the idea. If, at the end of that, you really have something, you'll know whether you want to move forward with it. Either on your own, or with a partner.

 

[Big Poppa]

Its is just too tough to look at stuff that isnt protected...we have 9 full time engineers working on new ideas all day every day....We dont ever want to risk seeing something and half the slim chance that we are also working on something similar....Dood luck!