Pursue Your Invention Idea Before Someone Else Does

As the market continues to be more innovative, there will be a demand for new or improved products from corporations or individuals with new product ideas. Davison can’t guarantee that while they’re preparing an idea for licensing presentations to corporations that someone else isn’t already working on pursuing the same idea.

It can be very disappointing and unsettling to discover your invention idea on store shelves because someone else pursued the idea before you did.  In most cases, people believe their ideas will always remain their own. The truth of the matter is that your idea may not be as unique as you think it is, and the first person to pursue an idea is generally credited with the invention.

Throughout history, there were many commercialized inventions that went on the market by someone other than the person who invented the product. For example, the first moving picture was recorded at 12 frames per second by French inventor Louis Le Prince. It was filmed at the home of Joseph and Sarah Whitley, in Roundhay, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England on October 14, 1888. The people in the video are Adolphe Le Prince, Sarah Whitley and Harriet Hatley. They all died mysteriously before Loius Le Prince could exhibit his motion picture in America. Thomas Edison was later credited with being the inventor of the motion picture and patented the method and apparatus that Louis Le Prince created.

Another example is intermittent windshield wipers.  Robert Kearns first introduced intermittent windshield wipers in the 1960’s and presented his design to Ford, which was one of the leading car companies of that time. Ford reviewed his idea, but rejected it. It is reported that Ford took the idea and made improvements to it.  A few years later, Ford introduced a car with similar wipers. Kearns filed a case, but ended up losing to Ford even though he spent $10 million in legal fees. 

Invention ideas that are submitted to Davison are kept confidential, but it is possible that there is someone out there who has the same idea. Sometimes time can make a big difference.  If you're interested in taking the first steps to get your invention idea off the ground, you complete the free information form and Davison will send you information on how to develop your idea.

Davison’s research, development and presentation services are provided for an upfront fee paid by the client and a contingent fee (which is a percentage of royalties obtained by the client, if any).  New product development is an uncertain endeavor and the use of Davison’s services typically does not result in a license agreement, sales on any market or profit to the inventor.  Davison does not perform analysis of the feasibility, marketability, patentability or profitability of ideas submitted to it.