[Help] Contacting Apple regarding product concept...

[FWW]

Good afternoon...

I was wondering if anyone knew of a point of contact with Apple for pitching/floating/forwarding product concepts/ideas. Specifically, I am looking for someone who would be able to point me in the right direction if one were to shop an idea to Apple.

I know it is a somewhat odd question, and I am scouring the interwebs as I speak, but thought someone here might be familiar with this.



Thanks in advance,
Forest

 

[SDub90]

steve@apple.com might be a good start

 

[aristobrat]

http://www.apple.com/legal/policies/ideas.html

Apple’s Unsolicited Idea Submission Policy

Apple or any of its employees do not accept or consider unsolicited ideas, including ideas for new advertising campaigns, new promotions, new or improved products or technologies, product enhancements, processes, materials, marketing plans or new product names. Please do not submit any unsolicited ideas, original creative artwork, suggestions or other works (“submissions”) in any form to Apple or any of its employees. The sole purpose of this policy is to avoid potential misunderstandings or disputes when Apple’s products or marketing strategies might seem similar to ideas submitted to Apple.

 

[FWW]

http://www.apple.com/legal/policies/ideas.html

I had a feeling there would either be a very specific point of contact, or, this type of policy.

Thanks for the info and quick responses.

Luckily, I was only going to speak with Apple because the company I would prefer to submit this to, would likely be dealing with Apple eventually if it were to come to fruition. I guess I will just deal with the other company.

Thanks!

 

[*LTD*]

Patent or otherwise file for rights on your idea, if you can. Never mind Apple for now. Or pitch it to a different company, if it isn't Apple-specific.

 

[maflynn]

OP,
I highly recommend you edit out your email address from your post or the bots will grab it and you'll start getting spammed.

 

[FWW]

OP,
I highly recommend you edit out your email address from your post or the bots will grab it and you'll start getting spammed.

I am generally ok with my gmail being in the wild, due to the unsurpassed spam filters, but since I got an answer I shall edit it out.


Also, to LTD, I have a lawyer friend who practices in intellectual property law working on it, and have dropped documentation into the mail so I have a postmarked, unopened set of notes/sketches on the idea in hand.

I spoke with a product development rep with the other company that would have been involved in the original concept, and he is forwarding some documents I have to review before he can even speak with me.

I think I will end up foregoing both companies altogether and perhaps bring a more fully formed concept to a third party developer after tweaking it a bit.

Thanks all for the tips!

Forest

 

[MisterMe]

http://www.apple.com/legal/policies/ideas.html

Any legitimate company will have a policy similar to Apple's for unsolicited product ideas. There are four possibilities and none of them are good:

1. Unsolicited proposal for a product that is a POS. The company has wasted its time talking to the person.
2. Unsolicited proposal for a product that is similar to one already in development. The company has no choice but to reject the proposal, but runs the risk of a lawsuit by the person making the unsolicited proposal.
3. Unsolicited proposal for a new concept. If the proposal is accepted and becomes a failed product, then the company wasted its money.
4. Unsolicited proposal for a new concept. If the proposal is accepted and becomes a successful product, then the company faces a possible lawsuit for having taken advantage of a "little guy."

Entertaining unsolicited product proposals is a waste of time, a waste of money, or runs the risk of litigation. Any company in the business of developing new products should slam its doors in the face of any and every person with an unsolicited proposal.

...

Also, to LTD, I have a lawyer friend who practices in intellectual property law working on it, and have dropped documentation into the mail so I have a postmarked, unopened set of notes/sketches on the idea in hand.

....

Apple will return your package unopened.

 

[FWW]

...

Apple will return your package unopened.

Oh, I know, not being prepared to be sent to Apple, just to get the concept on paper, and anything that can be filed to protect it filed. After that, I will shop it to app/relevant hardware developers...