Q: if i submit an idea to a company can they steal my idea and leave me out of the mix?
Ex. if i have an idea for google and submit it to them via their submission process, can they then use the idea I submitted without including me in the spoils per say?
A: Submission of your idea without a nondisclosure agreement is almost like a free gift to the receiving company. Like Google's disclaimer in its idea submission form that "by submitting a proposal, idea or feature request on this page, you give Google the right to use it freely without compensation." You had better not to submit your idea through the submission webpage. You should hire an intellectual property law attorney to draft and represent you in contact with Google so that you get well legal protection. The intellectual property law attorney may also evaluate and advise you what necessary legal actions you may take to protect your idea before you disclose your idea to others, such as provisional patent, copyright registration, or trade secret protection. Many attorneys provide free consultation. You should contact one of them before you move forward to submitting your idea to others.
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