new idea that everyone will find so useful

vertico

I'm not sure if this is the proper category.
Hi everyone
I came up with a brainwave last night. I can't go into any detail for obvious reasons. It's a simple enough idea which involves technology that is very commonly used. My idea makes it a lot more convenient for the user. A quick Google search tells me that it's not in use in the way I want to use it. I think it would be so handy in every household but I have no idea about where to go with just an idea.it would involve people from the computer manufacturing industry(i think)
Financially I'm in no way capable of doing anything to bring it any further than a pipe dream. So what I need is advise and help to bring it further. Also how can I protect my idea.
I hope this post makes a bit of sense.

Peterdalkey

What you have is an idea for a business using existing technology, which may or not be protected by IP, not for a new product. Essentially, you cannot protect a business model/concept other than by branding etc .

Graham

A patent would be the most obvious form of protection but given that you only had the idea last night I'd recommend you do more research on the idea itself before you go down that road. Lots more research.

vertico

Peterdalkey wrote: »

What you have is an idea for a business using existing technology, which may or not be protected by IP, not for a new product. Essentially, you cannot protect a business model/concept other than by branding etc .

What do you mean by branding it?

Peterdalkey

Trademarks etc, like Guinness, Apple, Zara, Facebook etc

vertico

Peterdalkey wrote: »

Trademarks etc, like Guinness, Apple, Zara, Facebook etc

Ok but the product already exists but I have a way to use it that would make it more convenient. Are there companies out there that help people with this sort of stuff?

Piriz

branding means giving it a name and or logo that people will identify with and recognise what the product is via the 'brand'.

Apple is a brand, Shazam is a brand, Levis is a brand... while other companies produce the same products a strong brand can produce a customer base..

It seams you are a million miles from bringing your idea to fruition as you know...
Unfortunately, lots of us have ideas and concepts for products and services that could potentially solve a problem or capture a market...but the reality is without the skills and money your idea will remain an idea.

In a nutshell if you want to develop your idea you need to develop your skills..

It could be possible to find people with the right skills to assist you but this may come at a cost...

Peterdalkey

unlikely, as all you have is an idea for an application, as far as I can tell, that are for other than the normal application. What you need is something that is unique and capable of being protected from imitation!! Good ideas sometimes have no commercially exploitable potential by the innovator, however useful the idea might be!

Graham

vertico wrote: »

Ok but the product already exists but I have a way to use it that would make it more convenient. Are there companies out there that help people with this sort of stuff?

There are but you may not want to use them, they will expect something in return.

I really think you're putting the cart before the horse, take some time to research your idea, study your competition, work out why nobody else is doing/using it. Work out what it will cost, what it will save, how much to make/develop it, who will use/buy it.

vertico

Piriz wrote: »

branding means giving it a name and or logo that people will identify with and recognise what the product is via the 'brand'.

Apple is a brand, Shazam is a brand, Levis is a brand... while other companies produce the same products a strong brand can produce a customer base..

It seams you are a million miles from bringing your idea to fruition as you know...
Unfortunately, lots of us have ideas and concepts for products and services that could potentially solve a problem or capture a market...but the reality is without the skills and money your idea will remain an idea.

In a nutshell if you want to develop your idea you need to develop your skills..

It could be possible to find people with the right skills to assist you but this may come at a cost...

That's exactly my problem. I need to get help and know that it will come at a cost. But surely there are companies that take on people's ideas and develop them for a percentage of potential earnings if they think it's going to be very profitable.

Peterdalkey

vertico wrote: »

That's exactly my problem. I need to get help and know that it will come at a cost. But surely there are companies that take on people's ideas and develop them for a percentage of potential earnings if they think it's going to be very profitable.

but only if it is capable of being protected from competition! Solve this and you may well have a valuable concept.

vertico

Peterdalkey wrote: »

but only if it is capable of being protected from competition!

How would I know this

Peterdalkey

vertico wrote: »

How would I know this

By deduction! If you only have an idea to use an existing product/technology for a novel use, you have no more than my garage doorstop made from an old tapered steel hammer head, for which it was never intended to be used!

vertico

I'm trying my best here to come up with an example of what I mean. As I said it's about taking something that the majority of the world use but making it more convenient.

Peterdalkey

OK, lets say you have a unique idea for a completely new strap design that makes it impossible to lose a mobile phone, then it could be protected by a patent. If you have a piece of unique software that gives the same result, that could be protected. It it is just an elastic band, no chance!

Peterdalkey

Also, it is important to understand that there are literally millions of patents that have zero commercial value. Value only comes from the willingness of people to pay for the invention or the use of it.

Atomico

vertico wrote: »

I'm not sure if this is the proper category.
Hi everyone
I came up with a brainwave last night. I can't go into any detail for obvious reasons. It's a simple enough idea which involves technology that is very commonly used. My idea makes it a lot more convenient for the user. A quick Google search tells me that it's not in use in the way I want to use it. I think it would be so handy in every household but I have no idea about where to go with just an idea.it would involve people from the computer manufacturing industry(i think)
Financially I'm in no way capable of doing anything to bring it any further than a pipe dream. So what I need is advise and help to bring it further. Also how can I protect my idea.
I hope this post makes a bit of sense.

At this very early stage, this is the most important part of your post. The starting point to you looks like 'how do I figure out building this and protecting the idea', when in reality it should be doing some research and investigation into the why nobody else has built it yet.

Is it because nobody has had the same great idea? Extremely unlikely, especially these days when the information on how to research a potential new concept is at everybody's fingertips.

Is it because other people have thought about it, but then discarded the idea because of x, y or z reason? Much more likely. Those reasons could include:

-Nobody would pay to use it (can make do with something else, or without it).
-Cost outweighs benefit (cost is too high for what you get back).
-Similar product achieves the same objective more cheaply / conveniently.

And probably many more reasons. So I would say your starting point is to research further in order to possibly save valuable time and perhaps money before finding out it isn't a runner.

vertico

Atomico wrote: »

At this very early stage, this is the most important part of your post. The starting point to you looks like 'how do I figure out building this and protecting the idea', when in reality it should be doing some research and investigation into the why nobody else has built it yet.

Is it because nobody has had the same great idea? Extremely unlikely, especially these days when the information on how to research a potential new concept is at everybody's fingertips.

Is it because other people have thought about it, but then discarded the idea because of x, y or z reason? Much more likely. Those reasons could include:

-Nobody would pay to use it (can make do with something else, or without it).
-Cost outweighs benefit (cost is too high for what you get back).
-Similar product achieves the same objective more cheaply / conveniently.

And probably many more reasons. So I would say your starting point is to research further in order to possibly save valuable time and perhaps money before finding out it isn't a runner.

The majority if people already use this every day. What I want to do is to make it much more accessible , at hands reach. Example: why get up to change channels when you have a remote control right beside you.

Peterdalkey

try these for size! http://www.ipo.gov.uk/types/patent/p-applying/p-before/p-requirements.htm

baby and crumble

OP, I've been doing an entrepreneurial course for the last couple of months, and if I've learned nothing else, I've learned that you have to be completely objective about your idea. You can think to yourself it's the best thing since sliced bread, but in all fairness, there's loads of people out there who prefer to slice their own bread!

You need to think WHY, with all the tech advancements of the last 30 years, no-one has thought to do what you want to do. "a quick google" isn't really enough- you need to search really specifically now, in patent registers, etc. Tell someone you trust, but who will be discreet etc. about your idea and ask them to honestly critique it. While you might think your idea is amazing and life changing, you might be the only person who thinks that! And if that's the case, no matter how great it is, you won't make money on it. And if you can't make enough money to make your product viable, then it's not a good idea at this time. Doesn't mean it won't be. But maybe just not now.

Atomico

vertico wrote: »

The majority if people already use this every day. What I want to do is to make it much more accessible , at hands reach. Example: why get up to change channels when you have a remote control right beside you.

Why do you think it's not more accessible than it currently is?

vertico

I have talked to my brother in law today, he runs a company that deals with a lot of design and technology. He thinks it's a very good idea and that everyone would use it if they had it.(they already have it but not the way I can give it to them). But he's not able to help with my idea. He advises much the same as everyone here but to try and get it protected 1st. But I am not financially able to do anything.
I'm gonna do a bit more research on companies that may be able to help me.

vertico

Atomico wrote: »

Why do you think it's not more accessible than it currently is?

My idea is just makes it convenient

Peterdalkey

if you disclose it without basic protection in place, it becomes un-patentable. You need to ask one of the patent agents if they will give you a free first consultation http://www.patentsoffice.ie/en/patents_agents.aspx

vertico

Would my local enterprise board be worth talking to?

lucky john

If you're idea is as unique and new as you think it is then it might be advisable to put it in on paper. Write it down in as much detail as possible, date it, sign it and put it in a safe place (with your solicitor possibly). Now go and download a nondisclosure template and any one else you need to tell get them to sign it first. This is in no way as strong as a patent but if you have something of value and need to explore option before spending money on protection it is a start.

Its a standard reply here but go and ask your local enterprise board if they can organise a meeting with a patent mentor for you. It should be free to start with anyway. EB's also provide very good funding for feasibility studys. Apart from your own on line research I think this is about the cheapest route you can take in validating your idea.

There was a story on radio last year of a homeless guy that had a laptop as his only asset and he managed to setup a business. Anything is possible if you put your mind to it.

I hope you're idea turn out to be as good as you believe. Best of luck.

Peterdalkey

Absolutely, after you have done the basics to get initial protection. They are going to want see your idea validated for protection before you can access their supports. Some more reading for you! http://www.patentsoffice.ie/en/patents_apply.aspx

pipie

lucky john wrote: »

it might be advisable to put it in on paper. Write it down in as much detail as possible, date it, sign it and put it in a safe place (with your solicitor possibly).

...and post it back to yourself by registered post.... and put it in a safe place (with your solicitor possibly)

Peterdalkey

As far as I know this is only applicable to establishing copyright date and not patents.

vertico

I sent myself an email earlier today with a lot of the details of the idea

pipie

vertico wrote: »

I sent myself an email earlier today with a lot of the details of the idea

try not to do that again, you dont know who can read your email's...

Peterdalkey

OP, I wont post again on this topic , but do advise that you to discern between real world advice and uneducated opinions and random advice !

vertico

Peterdalkey wrote: »

OP, I wont post again on this topic , but do advise that you to discern between real world advice and uneducated opinions and random advice !

I hear ya. Gonna get some advice tomorrow hopefully, thanks very much for your input

sawdoubters

I thought you were not tech savy

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=88886668

vertico

sawdoubters wrote: »

I thought you were not tech savy

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=88886668

How is that Tec savy? I couldn't solve that problem ,

lucky john

Peterdalkey wrote: »

As far as I know this is only applicable to establishing copyright date and not patents.

6. Maintain records to effectively enforce your intellectual property rights.You will have a better chance to prevail in a dispute over intellectual property rights if you maintain sufficient, historical documentation that undoubtedly establishes your entitlement to those rights. Moreover, upon adequate proof of your intellectual property rights, government agencies in most countries will help you enforce your rights in accordance with local laws. For example, in the United States, the Office of Intellectual Property Rights in the U.S. Department of Commerce (www.usdoj.gov/oipr/) will assist businesses in the development of an enforcement strategy in the United States and in foreign countries.To save time and money in the long run, NAMM Members should consider establishing and maintaining files for collecting documents relating to your intellectual property, such as: (1) Records, letters, invoices, receipts and other documents related to the adoption, first use and ownership of your intellectual property; (2) copies of advertisements that use your intellectual property, dated as of their appearance, together with records of company expenses for that advertising; (3) yearly summaries of the amount of product sold that features the intellectual property; (4) records relating to any changes in the intellectual property; and (5) any demand letters to others who try to pirate your intellectual property.

The reason for putting the idea in writing is to establish who had the idea first ( eg himself or the brother in law). It guarantees nothing but establishes a fact for the future.

DubTony

pipie wrote: »

try not to do that again, you dont know who can read your email's...

Actually, we do ... but anyway.

It seems to me that the OP is telling us that he's found a new way to use an existing product. Like using your toaster to heat up stewed apples, or using the kettle to bring in a radio reception.

The only way I can see that there's anything to protect here is if the OP sells an add-on item that would allow my kettle to act as a receiver. If it's simply using the product in a different way (that's how I see the outline of the opening post) there's really nothing to protect. If there's an additional item to sell, great, but if it's just an idea to extend the use of something, I don't even see anything worth protecting.

Maybe I'm missing something.