Comments on: How to Rent Your Ideas to Fortune 500 Companies: Part II (Plus: Hacking Japan Tips)

By: Jonathan Manning

Jonathan Manning — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:59:42 +0000

Stephen-
Great book! You have helped me finally decided what I want to be, an independent product developer! I just wish I would have known this was possible 10 years ago. I have a great idea for a huge company but don’t know how to get paid for it. I don’t have anything to patent, for example
I want to let XYZ company know that if they put their logo and brand on a cell phone case they would make a killing! Seems like a simple idea, they should have this but don’t. How do I protect my idea from them saying they already thought of this and how do I get paid? Thanks for all your help and inspiration. P.s. can’t wait to make some money so I can take your course!

By: Andrew Krauss

Andrew Krauss — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:50:21 +0000

Jay,

Yes, you can file a PPA on a provisional patent. Contact your attorney for more details and/or do some key word searching on google. Wikipedia will be real helpful for learning more.

-Andrew

By: Jay Howard

Jay Howard — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:31:53 +0000

Andrew,

Thanks so so much for your reply, I’ll definitely look into that. Would you happen to know if you can file a Provisional Patent for a Business Method Patent? I’m not sure how all this works!

By: Andrew Krauss

Andrew Krauss — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:23:40 +0000

Jay,

You might be able to get a “Business Method Patent”. Google it to find out more. An NDA would be a good idea also.

Keep Inventing,
Andrew Krauss
inventRight Co-Founder
I co-founded inventRight with Stephen 10 years ago with the goal of helping inventors license their ideas

By: Jay Howard

Jay Howard — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:11:29 +0000

Stephen-

Love your post, thanks so much for all your insight.

I did have a question for you: what if our “idea” that’d we’d like to pitch for a company isn’t a physical product?

I’ve got an idea that I want to pitch to a growing startup company- one that is a part of the whole “group buying” business model. I’ve got an idea that is purely a business PROCESS (a new way for them to deal with customers and clients, a very unique process of cash flow and how these relationships interact).

My question is, how do I protect this business plan/process if it isn’t a physical product? A PPA? Have them sign a simple NDA?

I’d value any help you could give! Thanks so much!