Rubber Bullets
FH is my second home
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2003
- Messages
- 1,453
and as I've got no clue what to do next I'm going to ask here.
The idea is for a potential commercial project, and though clearly I trust every one of you implicitly I just can't take the risk that there are unknown people lurking ready to rip off the concept and beat me to it.
So what is my best next step?
The issues as I see it are 1. it may well simply be a crap idea. I think it's good, but then it's mine, and I'm biased!
2. It could be old already. I've done a product search and can't find anything like it, and have done a patent search, and have similarly come up empty handed.
3. If 1. and 2. both go in my favour how can I do anything about it anyway? It's not like I could set up a company to make the thing, unless I got the Dragons involved (and I have vaguely considered it), but could I sell the idea to a current manufacturer in the sector? How do I protect myself from them simply telling me it's shite, and then find it on the market in 6 months?
4. Patents cost £230 at least, and that's if I did everything myself, which I have no skill in. And I would have to try and patent a concept rather than a strict design, as the possibilities are too broad to even try that.
As you can see from above I am basically clueless, but not so naive as to believe that most people think they've got a world stopping idea at some point in their lives, and almost certainly haven't, but can't help thinking what if?? I'm not looking to retire on this by any means, but a few hundred or whatever would be great.
Humour me for a moment, and pretend the idea has legs, what should my next move be?
RB
The idea is for a potential commercial project, and though clearly I trust every one of you implicitly I just can't take the risk that there are unknown people lurking ready to rip off the concept and beat me to it.
So what is my best next step?
The issues as I see it are 1. it may well simply be a crap idea. I think it's good, but then it's mine, and I'm biased!
2. It could be old already. I've done a product search and can't find anything like it, and have done a patent search, and have similarly come up empty handed.
3. If 1. and 2. both go in my favour how can I do anything about it anyway? It's not like I could set up a company to make the thing, unless I got the Dragons involved (and I have vaguely considered it), but could I sell the idea to a current manufacturer in the sector? How do I protect myself from them simply telling me it's shite, and then find it on the market in 6 months?
4. Patents cost £230 at least, and that's if I did everything myself, which I have no skill in. And I would have to try and patent a concept rather than a strict design, as the possibilities are too broad to even try that.
As you can see from above I am basically clueless, but not so naive as to believe that most people think they've got a world stopping idea at some point in their lives, and almost certainly haven't, but can't help thinking what if?? I'm not looking to retire on this by any means, but a few hundred or whatever would be great.
Humour me for a moment, and pretend the idea has legs, what should my next move be?
RB