Brilliant Idea Protection
Discussion
Number 2120 in my "this will make me millions" ideas and its a decent one. Question is we need to contract out the manufacture of a very simple LED-based project that needs adding into the material (think of starcloth). Nothing original in this but the application is unique so what can I do to stop the company we choose to manufacture from copying the idea. Assembly would be in the UK by anyone really as its a basic assembly process from China sourced electronics.
To add I am not looking for IP or TM just something the assembler has to sign to stop them copying.
To add I am not looking for IP or TM just something the assembler has to sign to stop them copying.
A very good non-disclosure agreement (NDA) would be a good starting point. I think I have one on file somewhere. I’m at work but I can send it on later.
Does the company you end up talking to seem the sort who will nick the IP? – if its worth nicking. There may be an application that they have thought of and you haven’t. Difficult one to judge, but do they have their own switched on technical team?
Do they have a track record of ignoring NDA’s?
Do they have a track record of creating their NDA’s?
Even if part of the assembly goes to China, forget your IP/NDA, it will be copied by someone else before you receive your first one. The Chinese are getting slightly better at IP protection, but nowhere near where they should be.
Maybe it would be more worthwhile setting up a license agreement with your assemblers. There are loads of versions of things to do out there, and if you are just the average man in the street, you have probably already realised the system is stacked against you.
It may be worth getting them to contribute to the cost as they could be the ones funding the defence from the attack off others.
This is an excellent beginners read
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Patents-Registered-Design...
Don’t assume a patent is the way to go, if you thought it would help - sometimes a registered design or a copyright is more beneficial.
Read the patent libraries carefully, as one Australian guy has 1000’s of patents, some are linked to this kind of technology. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kia_Silverbrook
I would strongly recommend getting yourself a mentor with genuine experience in this field – easier said than done… Professional services in this field are eye wateringly expensive
Good luck and let us know how you get on. Even if it’s only to encourage people like me to pull their fingers out!
Does the company you end up talking to seem the sort who will nick the IP? – if its worth nicking. There may be an application that they have thought of and you haven’t. Difficult one to judge, but do they have their own switched on technical team?
Do they have a track record of ignoring NDA’s?
Do they have a track record of creating their NDA’s?
Even if part of the assembly goes to China, forget your IP/NDA, it will be copied by someone else before you receive your first one. The Chinese are getting slightly better at IP protection, but nowhere near where they should be.
Maybe it would be more worthwhile setting up a license agreement with your assemblers. There are loads of versions of things to do out there, and if you are just the average man in the street, you have probably already realised the system is stacked against you.
It may be worth getting them to contribute to the cost as they could be the ones funding the defence from the attack off others.
This is an excellent beginners read
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Patents-Registered-Design...
Don’t assume a patent is the way to go, if you thought it would help - sometimes a registered design or a copyright is more beneficial.
Read the patent libraries carefully, as one Australian guy has 1000’s of patents, some are linked to this kind of technology. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kia_Silverbrook
I would strongly recommend getting yourself a mentor with genuine experience in this field – easier said than done… Professional services in this field are eye wateringly expensive
Good luck and let us know how you get on. Even if it’s only to encourage people like me to pull their fingers out!
Great reply thanks "Even if part of the assembly goes to China, forget your IP/NDA, it will be copied by someone else before you receive your first one. The Chinese are getting slightly better at IP protection, but nowhere near where they should be. "
The reason I wont get the full item made in China is exactly that, I would just get components with assembly in the UK (plus its quite heavy), all I want to do is stop the assembly company which will be small initially from copying the application so a none compete is probably the way to go.
The reason I wont get the full item made in China is exactly that, I would just get components with assembly in the UK (plus its quite heavy), all I want to do is stop the assembly company which will be small initially from copying the application so a none compete is probably the way to go.
Mr Overheads said:
I have an electronics components assembler as a client (Nottingham based). Ping me an email.
Cheers, its really heavy so trying to keep the led loom near the curtain bit supplier and hoping one of them will ship to customers - that’s the plan anyway, reality may end up different. bucksmanuk said:
Even if part of the assembly goes to China, forget your IP/NDA, it will be copied by someone else before you receive your first one. The Chinese are getting slightly better at IP protection, but nowhere near where they should be.
A Chinese court recently - and unusually - found in favour of a European car manufacturer (BMW I believe) in case brought against a Chinese car firm over what, was near as damn it, a clone of one of their vehicles. They are closing in on all this but it is worth remembering that it is within their nature to 'replicate' so will take some time to weed this out.Gassing Station | Business | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff