I’ve seen a lot of people who don’t want to share and talk about their ideas for fear of them being stolen. I’ve always believed that an idea without implementation is worth nothing. But maybe I’m wrong.
Tell me, have you ever had an idea stolen from you?
Did you really want to do it? Or do you realize now that you never would have made this app/business anyway?
$0
If ideas worth anything, there would be an idea marketplace.
Hmm, that’s a good answer.
While I agree that simply ideas are basically worth nothing, tbf an idea marketplace couldn’t be implemented even if they would have value
Why not?
It would be possible using the patent system.
Step 1: people with ideas file provisional patent with sufficient detail to be considered an enabling disclosure.
Step 2: ideas are published on a marketplace website.
Step 3: idea buyers peruse the website
Step 4: idea buyer can purchase an idea. They get the rights to the provisional patent.
Step 5: idea buyer files a complete patent application (or PCT application) within 12 months of the provisional patent, listing the idea person as the inventor.
Step 6: everyone is happy
Step 1 is actually not necessary in countries that have a ‘grace provision’. In ‘grace provision’ countries, this means an idea that is published within 12 months of the complete filing date cannot be used as prior art to invalidate the patent (if the person who published the idea is the same as the person filing the complete patent).
The enabling disclosure is key to the idea. You need to be very clear and specific about exactly how the invention works.
But this makes little to no sense, if for example, Jeff Bezos came up with the idea of “online book store” in 90s, then chances are that someone else had that idea, so it creates another useless legal battle where the only weapon the idea creator has is that ha patented it earlier, this could be detrimental to economy as monopolies would pop up way more often.
The world is an idea marketplace. Those who recognise this wisely exchange their ideas.
Mostly correct and I agree that almost all ideas (even good ones) are worth $0. It’s all about execution. However, if you can come up with them consistently there are think tanks.
Great perspective with regards to the marketplace notion…now with that said, you could argue that patents are the marketplace.
People with the idea and the ability to patent it create an idea with a potential value. That value is realized via commercialization, licensing, or litigation.
Thanks for making me think today.