Approaching MB with a new idea

[Gucci]

I have an idea which would be easy to implement, be a simple safety feature which would cost virtually nothing to MB per car (I think). I thought of it while driving on the motorway... a eureka moment if you like. Now, it may come to diddly zilch, but I'd like to approach Mercedes with it and offer it to them. Clearly I'd be looking for some wonga, but what's the best way of doing this and protecting the idea?

p.s I'm not telling you what it is yet...you'll just have to see it when it becomes available

 

[Beetnik]

tell us or else...

 

[c240yaz]

passenger (wife) ejector seat ?

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Im out...

 

[kjay]

Is it the 'Don't let women drive them' idea?


Oh, I'm sooo dead!

.

 

[hawk20]

I have an idea which would be easy to implement, be a simple safety feature which would cost virtually nothing to MB per car (I think). I thought of it while driving on the motorway... a eureka moment if you like. Now, it may come to diddly zilch, but I'd like to approach Mercedes with it and offer it to them. Clearly I'd be looking for some wonga, but what's the best way of doing this and protecting the idea?

p.s I'm not telling you what it is yet...you'll just have to see it when it becomes available

A patent lawyer can advise you on getting patent protection or a secrecy and no pinch agreement with MB.

Also there are solicitors specialising in 'intellectual capital' who may be able to help.

 

[Diesel Benz]

It is a long way to have an idea protected by a patent. Even if you after several years were granted a patent, it may not be valid after all when someone takes it to a court.

I'd approach MB and submit the idea with a written statement that you give them all the rights (cannot do it on behalf of others, someone else may have figured out it already, actually quite likely, those in the business have most of the ideas filed even if those have not been implemented for one or the other reason). If it really turns out to be useful for them, they might give you a gift, don't expect anything significant. The best reward for you would be that you can in the future enjoy the feature in your MB.

If you really are sure it is a big hit and absolutely new, then try filing your own patent application but figure out the details of the process first.

 

[nick mercedes]

I have an idea which would be easy to implement, be a simple safety feature which would cost virtually nothing to MB per car (I think). I thought of it while driving on the motorway... a eureka moment if you like. Now, it may come to diddly zilch, but I'd like to approach Mercedes with it and offer it to them. Clearly I'd be looking for some wonga, but what's the best way of doing this and protecting the idea?

p.s I'm not telling you what it is yet...you'll just have to see it when it becomes available

Rust proofing?

 

[rf065]

Rust proofing?

It must be reasonably priced servicing?

Russ

 

[Diesel Benz]

It must be reasonably priced servicing?

Russ

Perhaps a method to clone Richard and Alfie to each of their workshop?

 

[richard]

The moment you have told Mercedes about it, (or anyone else not covered by appropriate legal agreements) you can no longer patent it.

Find an automotive patent lawyer, and have a chat with them before you do anything more. Most patent lawyers will do an inital conversation for free.

Richard

Richard

 

[Lord Lucan MK]

Believe me it is always anything but simple and there will always be design costs and even retooling costs and MB wont do that without getting a decent slice of the action no matter what the idea is

 

[Benzin]

p.s I'm not telling you what it is yet...you'll just have to see it when it becomes available

Yeah, sorry, Clarkson has already covered it in last weeks Top Gear with the magnets & toy cars lol.

 

[jaymanek]

I once thought of an idea at uni... brake lights that got brighter with intensity of pressure on pedal... then I saw a program and some manufacturuers are already planning on putting it into action..

 

[IanA2]

I once thought of an idea at uni... brake lights that got brighter with intensity of pressure on pedal... then I saw a program and some manufacturuers are already planning on putting it into action..

Know the feeling.....every time I thought I had a new idea I found the Uni library had a few metres of shelves dedicated to same

 

[hawk20]

Having an idea protected by patent is not as difficult as some suggest. And most large firms are used to secrecy agreements. All you need is a lawyer experienced in this field.

And don't let people tell you all the ideas have already been thought of. Individuals come up with new ideas all the time. Been down this road myself a few times, on both sides of the desk, and it is not as difficult as some would have you believe.

 

[Swiss Toni]

I once thought of an idea at uni... brake lights that got brighter with intensity of pressure on pedal... then I saw a program and some manufacturuers are already planning on putting it into action..

How many manufacturers now use the system to automatically turn the hazards on when the brakes are "hit" suddenly?

The last driving course I was on, the other team had a car with them fitted - I have only ever seen them in use once on the road.

Funny to think folks poh-poh'd high level brake lights at first too.

 

[lynall]

Hazards used to come on with my first discovery but that may have been because i wasnt watching where i was going and drove down a 6 foot hole whilst off road and slightly bent the chassis



Lynall

 

[Diesel Benz]

Having an idea protected by patent is not as difficult as some suggest. And most large firms are used to secrecy agreements. All you need is a lawyer experienced in this field.

And don't let people tell you all the ideas have already been thought of. Individuals come up with new ideas all the time. Been down this road myself a few times, on both sides of the desk, and it is not as difficult as some would have you believe.

I hope I was not too pessimistic with my opinion, no intention to try the inventor give up. I was more after asking one to be realistic with the expectations.

I've been on both sides of the desk too (although mostly on the other side ).

I know a patent isn't that difficult to obtain for one country, if it is one where a lot of cars are produced and/or sold, it could be sufficient to have coverage for one country only. But what I wanted to emphasise was that even if one succeeds getting a patent approved, it does not mean one would actually own the rights to the invention, in practise. The point is that the patent can always be challenged and at that point you would need to put your lawyers against those from a big car manufacturer where things do not necessarily remain very technical.

Then I would personally attempt a small reward with higher likelihood than a lottery win with a low likelihood of success.

Costs are not really high, if you do the paperwork mostly yourself, you get pretty far with 10 000 euros but once you star paying fees for an approved patent for several countries, that starts to be more expensive. Also a good application is not easy to draft even if one is somewhat familiar with the topic.

Anyway nice of you when intending to offer this for MB, eventually for us to enjoy.

 

[crockers]

When driving through London seeing parked vans with their hazards on and not knowing if they are parked or pulling out (because I could only see the outside lights due to parked cars) -- I thought that all cars / vans should have double hazards / indicators so that when indicating both upper and lower flashed as one but when operated as a hazard warning they alternated......Never did present that to anyone so if any manufacturers like the idea feel free ... just make a donation to my favourite charity ........................ME..