I was just thinking...

[Carl-NC]

I agree it's a touchy situation. There are a lot of really good ideas out there, but most of them are undeveloped (beyond just an idea) and the "inventors" often don't have the means to develop them. That's part of the reason for these forums, to develop ideas amongst multiple brains.

There is no question that commercial interests can also take these ideas and develop them, and even apply the "less scrupulous" tact of applying for a patent. But the more disclosure, discussion, and development an idea gets here, the more likely such a patent is completely unenforceable.

The alternatives to public disclosure is to sit on the idea, or to try to privately take it to a commercial interest. I've had a number of people do just that, but that's even more awkward. People call me on the phone saying, "I have a great idea, but I want White's to sign a contract before I spill the beans." Usually I can't do that, because the vast number of ideas we get are things we've either already looked at, or are currently developing. The only time I'll sign an NDA is if someone walks up with a fully developed, built, and working idea, ready for me to test. There is one of these in progress now.

I've been impressed with the openness of most of the forum denizens here, and some really interesting designs have resulted. I hope it continues, and despite my commercial ties I will continue to contribute as much as I can.

- Carl

[Midas]

I agree it's a touchy situation. There are a lot of really good ideas out there, but most of them are undeveloped (beyond just an idea) and the "inventors" often don't have the means to develop them. That's part of the reason for these forums, to develop ideas amongst multiple brains.

There is no question that commercial interests can also take these ideas and develop them, and even apply the "less scrupulous" tact of applying for a patent. But the more disclosure, discussion, and development an idea gets here, the more likely such a patent is completely unenforceable.

The alternatives to public disclosure is to sit on the idea, or to try to privately take it to a commercial interest. I've had a number of people do just that, but that's even more awkward. People call me on the phone saying, "I have a great idea, but I want White's to sign a contract before I spill the beans." Usually I can't do that, because the vast number of ideas we get are things we've either already looked at, or are currently developing. The only time I'll sign an NDA is if someone walks up with a fully developed, built, and working idea, ready for me to test. There is one of these in progress now.

I've been impressed with the openness of most of the forum denizens here, and some really interesting designs have resulted. I hope it continues, and despite my commercial ties I will continue to contribute as much as I can.

- Carl

Yeah, it can be better to see an idea take flight, than wallow in some closet. Even if that does mean it could potentially end up in the hands of a commercial entity. Its just a shame that what starts an idea 'open for community development', doesn't always finish as such.

Oh btw when I said "less scrupulous" I was actually referring to a company applying for a patent based on someone else's idea without any attempt at compensation. It does indeed take some scruples to compensate someone purely out of a sense of morality, I suspect most companies wouldn't bother.

Midas