Sorry if this isn't the appropriate board because it is sort of cross-topic.

Basically, I have an idea for an app that I believe would be pretty awesome. I have identified a company that I think would find this useful/profitable and I am not really intereseted in developing it myself (don't really have the time or money since I am a college student). However, I am reluctant to contact this company because I have no idea how to approach them about "selling" the idea. I have a million different ways this app could be used...

How do these sort of things work? Do you generally need to patent the idea before you approach them? Can you even patent an idea? Has anyone ever done anything like this?

This post was edited on 3/4/12 at 3:47 pm

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Posted by HeadyMurphey

Los Santos

Member since Jan 2008

17303 posts

Posted on 3/4/12 at 7:52 am to CalcuttaTigah

Never done this before, but I would develop a design document and then approach them with an NDA. If they signed it, provide them the design document and ask them to make an offer.

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Posted by acgeaux129

We are BR

Member since Sep 2007

15011 posts

Posted on 3/4/12 at 3:35 pm to CalcuttaTigah

I'm kind of in the same boat as you. I would edit your post a little to be even more discrete. Get an NDA document and have anyone you talk to sign it first. If any of your friends' dads are lawyers, try to get hooked up with an Intellectual Property lawyer for advice. Do everything you can to safeguard your idea and then go from there. Keep in mind that creating an app isn't all that simple. You'll have to get a programmer to do it for you and they can charge over $100 an hour. There is also a good bit involved on the server side that you'll need to have taken care of. Obviously these are some of the areas where the business would come in for you.

ETA: My bad, misread your post and didn't realize you were just trying to sell the idea specifically. One other thing, if this company falls through, you can approach the Business Incubator program for LSU in a similar way and they will provide you with a ton of resources.

This post was edited on 3/4/12 at 3:52 pm

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Posted by CalcuttaTigah

Member since Jul 2009

1011 posts

Posted on 3/4/12 at 3:49 pm to acgeaux129

I literally just want to sell the idea so I wouldn't have to worry about those programming and server costs.

This post was edited on 3/4/12 at 3:50 pm

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Posted by shutterspeed

MS Gulf Coast

Member since May 2007

72826 posts

Posted on 3/4/12 at 4:12 pm to CalcuttaTigah

quote:
I literally just want to sell the idea so I wouldn't have to worry about those programming and server costs.

Food for thought: Your idea is worth a pittance compared to a completed product.

If you really want to score some dough for your idea, then consider finding a way to complete a tangible product--whether by giving developers a stake in your business, going after sponsors, etc.

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Posted by NC_Tigah

Make Orwell Fiction Again

Member since Sep 2003

139518 posts

Posted on 3/4/12 at 4:28 pm to shutterspeed

quote:
Food for thought: Your idea is worth a pittance compared to a completed product.

If you really want to score some dough for your idea, then consider finding a way to complete a tangible product--whether by giving developers a stake in your business, going after sponsors, etc.

This.

At the least apply for a patent or copyright before approaching a potential buyer.
The cold truth is a NDA won't be worth the paper it was printed on if your product mysteriously shows up in production 2 to 3 years after folks you approached "turn it down".

Also get a reasonable idea as to what the thing is worth before approaching a buyer.

This post was edited on 3/4/12 at 4:29 pm

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