this question is for the members-manufactures and inventors of ideatango.com, when a inventor meets a manufacture that he or she feels that his or her innovation is a fit for that company, the representative refuse's to sign a non-disclosure agreement almost like he was signing a warrant for his arrest,as a inventor myself i know that a nda protects the manufacture as well as the inventor,in closing there is no way to stop someone from making a similar product.




sincerely
joe

Joe, your experience is very common. Many manufacturers will not sign NDAs for fear of a lawsuit (say they're already making the product before you show up). The best way to protect your product when going to a manufacturer is be smart about how much information you give them, file for AT LEAST a provisional patent, and gauge whether the person is someone you can trust. On the positive side, from what I hear, once they decide that they like the sound of their product, they will sign an NDA to see details like design drawings, etc.

el presidente,you are right many manufactures do believe this,but on the other hand not many inventors have patent protection due to a lack of income or education, and a non-disclosure agreement is the only protection they have, as a inventor my self when i did not have a patent my biggest fear was someone stealing my innovation but as of today that is behind me now.
sincerely
joe

Joe -

It is quite simple that when you divulge the details of your product idea (without patent pending status or patented product) you are putting yourself at risk - especially with overseas companies that you cannot easily visit or communicate with. You must work with factories that can be trusted and you do so by working with firms that have these relationships.

JimD,hi
i believe your statements are true but what if you are a inventor who lets a manufacture view his or her invention with no patent status that has a signed nda from the inventor,i think that at this point it is a matter of trust because with the state of the economy right now companies in the us are looking for outside innovation to generate cash,profits more revenue and etc; it would be in the best interest of this possible manufacture not to look a gift horse in the mouth.

sincerely
joe

Seems like you may be a very trusting man Joe and in most cases people do the right thing and don't steal ideas but when you are dealing with factories in China for example you have no control or recourse should they copy your idea. Try taking a chinese factory to court!!

The economy might be tough but that does not mean that many factories are hurting. in fact, many asian factories are doing quite well so do not assume that everyone is desperate for business. Overall, the economy is cyclical and soon enough things will be very strong and positive and people know this and don't stop working....Jim

Jim,hi

have you heard about the mother and daughter duo's who invented a patented doll called hide-n seek hayley,they thought like they would be millionaires until a year later when a major p_layer_ put a new spin on it's on doll,there strategy to get there product distributed in foreign markets backfired on them ,where copycats often spring up,jim it goes to prove that patents don't always protect you from copycats.





sincerely
joe

This is true Joe that you can never really be 100% sure that even with patent protection that someone or some big company may come along and alter your idea ever so slightly and bring it to market....so all you can do is to do your very best to protect yourself! Jim