Our company only accepts copies of filed patent
applications as disclosures of unsolicited ideas.
Nothing outside of what is in the application. And we
prefer that the application is published, but have
looked at a couple that weren't.
We then agree only to discuss a license on what may issue and agree not to publish any part of the application that are not found in the prior art. Since the PTO is already digging up the prior art we find it to be the best way to look at unsolicited ideas.
Also, if they are trying to patent something we feel is already out there, we may as well get our art together sooner rather than later.
I'd appreciate any comments if someone sees flaws with this approach. It was developed before I was hired and I haven't examined it too carefully yet. I must say it keeps the number of submissions reasonable.
Keith
> >the only, or perhaps the best, and most certainly
> the cheapest, tho'
> >never easiest way to protect an idea is to obtain a
> confidentiality
> >agreement before presenting it
>
> Other than the minor detail that no game company in
> the world would
> sign such an agreement, it sounds like a swell idea.
>
> I'm sure I'm not the only person around who realized
> some years ago
> that it is simply not in my interest to agree to any
> sort of NDA with
> someone who wants to pitch something to me. It's
> invariably a me-too
> idea, often an idea that I'm already familiar with
> from other sources,
> and an NDA now means that I have to document where I
> already knew
> about it or risk getting sued and losing. Who needs
> the grief?
>
> The only NDAs I'll agree to are with someone with
> whom I've already
> agreed to do business, on material where I already
> have a pretty good
> idea what it is about.
>
> Regards,
> John Levine, johnl[_at_]taugh.com, Taughannock Networks,
> Trumansburg NY
> http://www.taugh.com
>
>
>
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