New Product

Blink182rock

Hi everyone !!

I have a new idea on a teabag design , did good bit of sketching and that !!

Want to up the anti a bit but don't know where to go from here !!

I need to make a prototype and that but don't even know where to get the tea bag paper stuff !!

Don't know where to go after that's done either !!

can anyone help ?

Cheers

On option for you:

Draw your design up perfectly from a few different angles. Get yourself a contract put together, a type of non circumvention agreement stating that the signer must acknowledge you own the copyright of that design attached. Then bring it do a major tea manufacturer and see if they are willing to sign it and would like to use/test your idea. Youd need to know what you want out of it of course before going into negotiations.
Maybe the tea company wouldn't sign the contract that would come down to your sales pitch. But if it worked it sure would save you a lot of time.....

Blink182rock

thanks for that !!

But the fact that its not patented could they just say "no" and when I go away they draw it up them selves ?
If I go to one the major compaines on my own with no expirence atal there surely going to take advantage of me though arent they ?

If they wont sign your contract then dont show them anything if your worried about them stealing it. If they sign the contract and adopt your idea without compensating you you could sue them.
Lets just say your have the best tea bag idea ever and they adopt it and it works. Like you say they take advantage and dont compensate you. If the idea becomes successful you would be in line to sue them for a lot of money (subject to your the signed contract being prepared properly), so its not really in their interest. I think they would look at it that way. Better for them to have a fantastic new teabag design and pay you for it, then have bad press and lawsuits which would cost them more in the long run. They pay R&D depts to come up with stuff so why not you if your idea is that good.
Patents are difficult, take ages, can often be cracked by a good lawyer and costly if they grant it. If I were you Id take a punt and I hope your dealing with ethical people

Blink182rock

O right thats good info there thanks!!

How do I go about writing up a contract then . I have no idea what so ever about how to do it in a pro way !!

Will I have to make a prototype or will design on paper be good enough for them ?

You'll need a lawyer to do one up specific for your product. You might get a family friend to do it for you on the cheap. Wouldnt bother with a prototype for now

Blink182rock

o money money !!

Its prob going to have to go on hold for few months in that case ,
Do you know roughly how much a lawyer would charge for some thing like that ?

random.stranger

Although I respect El Rifle's opinion, I don't agree on this one.

I don't think a copyright would apply to your product.

You would expect big companies to behave ethically in order to protect their image.

There are plenty of examples of big companies that have taken peoples' ideas without paying for them. Trevor Baylis (who went on to develop the clockwork radio) developed a range of products to help the disabled, he believed he had created a brand & image for his company that would stop people copying his ideas. He was put out of business by blatant copies.

Although patents can be costly, I wouldn't go within shouting distance of a manufacturer without having a patent to protect my idea.

I accept that patents can be cracked. But a good patent attourney should be able to tell you if you have a likelyhood of getting a strong patent on your idea. Without a strong patent James Dyson's dual cyclone would have been taken by Amway without any money in it for him (although I accept it cost him a lot of time and money to win this case). I think a patent attourney should be able to give you an initial consultation free.

If you are living near a college, they may have an innovation centre. This could be a good place to go to get some more informed advice than I can offer. The may also have a patent attouney that does clinics & could line you up for a consultation.

I agree with a lot of what your saying random.

Id be recommend a patent in a lot of cases, but Ive made a few assumptions here about the OP he can correct me if im wrong.....about 18 years old, no experience in registering patents and the fine detail that needs to be in there, no cash to be going through the paperwork, and maybe not the inclination to put everything he's got behind his tea-bag idea. More of a "I have a good idea maybe I could make a few quid from it quick". You might get a consultation free from a patents lawyer but if he is going to do it up for you it sounds like it would cost more then the OP can afford and could run into the thousands. I havent filed for one in ireland before, but from experience abroad if it gets granted it costs a decent chunk of cash (10K?)

I think many people have lots of ideas, little sparks but never give it ago because of fear of copying or whatever, so they end of never seeing the light of day. In my opinion its better to give it a crack and worst case scenario lose the idea then put it on the back burner where it might just dissolve.

OP the cost of the contract could be anywhere from a couple of hundred euro to 500 euro depending on the lawyer. If you cant afford a couple of hundred euro and you still want to give this a pop, trawl the internet for non circumvention agreements. Properly research it and cut and paste a contract together. You must know a business person somewhere, or a friend of the family that can give it the once over. Tell them your lawyer put it together. Contracts dont have to be difficult. If it makes sense when you read it aloud, it will make sense to them. I reckon you'll find decent examples on the net.
Bottom line is if you want to do it on a shoestring my way is a good option, if you want to take your idea very seriously and devote proper time and effort to it, do what randomstranger is saying.

random.stranger

Oh right, I see where your coming from El Rifle.

Yes I would expect it to be quite expensive to go through the patent process.

Might still be worth your while popping into an innovation centre and enterprise board before approaching companies. They can give you free advice & may find strengths/weaknesses in your idea that you haven't thought of. This could be good preparation for dealing with companies.

Best of Luck

Blink182rock

thanks for all the help and info . ill head into one the colleges as soon as I can anway !!

Much appricated !!