This kind of goes along with my recent question about patents.
I have an idea for a databse network that would be really helpful for businesses and for their clients. However, it’s something way, way, way to complexe for me to ever consider doing myself.
It dawned on my last night that I could propose it to a company like Google who certainly has the capability to undertake something of this level of difficulty. Can I simply explain the idea in detail to them, or do I have to go about getting a copyright or something like that first.
I don’t know if this can work, but if it can, I don’t want to get screwed simply because I don’t know the system.
Any serious company does not want to hear anything from people off the street. There are huge potential legal implications in what you are proposing. Lots of problems can be had.
E.g., Google may already have started a project similar to your idea. Say they were to allow you to present your idea to them. They of course decide that you have brought them nothing new. Later they introduce their product. You might decide to sue them for “stealing” your idea. Who needs that?
Note that many meetings concerning possible joint work are preceded by signing NDAs. I strongly suspect that the Google attorneys are going to reject your NDA and going into the meeting without getting Google to sign an NDA is just asking for it.
Even people with patents usually can’t get their foot in the door.
The best book on protecting IP is Nolo’s “Patent it yourself.” They will explain clearly why your suggestion is a bad idea. Try your local library. Link:
Why can’t one give a company an idea under contract or as a temporary employee? You’d think they’d be more than eager to explore new ideas…at least lend an ear! - Jinx
In the real world, people confuse “ideas” with half-baked, half-formed wishful thinking impractical and unimplementable notions, often in impenetrable language that nobody else can understand. It would be bad enough if only one person did this, but companies like Google attract the attentions of thousands of notion-mongers, all of whom are in love with their own thoughts.
It cannot possibly be worth Google’s time and money to search through the thousands of communications for the nuggets of good ideas, especially with the legal liabilities so incredibly high. There is a long history of this in every industry and the only feasible way of handling it is to reject everything equally and equally unread.
The few with real ideas can pursue other avenues for developing them into reality. At that point, it might be worth while for a professional presentation. But not at the “idea” stage.