Black And Decker stole my invention for a new tool ripoff Hampstead Maryland
My name is Don. About 4 years ago I invented a new hand tool. I made a crude prototype and a video. I shopped it all around and sent the video to many different companies including Barb Davis at Black and Decker. Everyone including Black and Decker sent me rejection letters. However this past week I saw a commercial on TV of the exact tool I was pitching to everyone put on by Black and Decker. I got on their website and sure enough it's their new greatest tool. I didn't have a patent and I still don't but Black and Decker ripped me off and does anyone know what I can do about this?
Don
Toledo, Ohio
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Titus Corleone
Novato,California,
USA
Black and Decker should play fair
#3Consumer Comment
Sun, October 11, 2015
I know a professional product designer and inventor who has a patented idea he is about to submit to Stanley/Black and Decker, and even with the protection of a Patent, Attorneys, and Unique Designs, Stanley Black and Decker has a disturbing clause in their "Policies and Conditions of Submitted Ideas” which is pasted in below:
I/ We will rely solely upon my/our rights under the patent laws for compensation for my/our idea. If the Company is interested in my/our Idea, I/we will negotiate with the Company for rights to any patent rights that I/we have related to my/our idea. Nothing in this agreement shall prevent the Company from contesting the scope, validity and enforceability of my/our patent rights. If I/we have no valid, enforceable patent rights that cover the Company’s use of my/our Idea, the Company is under no obligation to compensate me/us for my/ our Idea, and, if the Company does compensate me/us, the payment will not exceed $5,000 (US).
Yes, this man, Don, did not have a patent for his idea, but Stanley Black and Decker does have a portal for the submission of new ideas. Isn't Stanley Black and Decker making enough money? Do they really need to steal the dreams of a struggling individual and discard him like a piece of trash so they can turn a buck on his idea? Read the clause above. If some attorney says they need this in their agreement... Why could they not craft a reasssuring pledge to do all they can to assist struggling inventors? They could even promise to never steal, reengineer, or 'circumvent the rights' of an inventor! It looks like they are doing exactly the opposite.
How about the notion of Corporate Responsibility and Fair Trade???
The good press and public perception of a corporation helping Americans in this horrible economy would far outweigh any profit they might make reengineering or stealing ideas for profit. Actually helping inventors (and I don't mean exploiting them on phony T.V. reality series) would be innumerably more valuable than using people and looking for any area or weakness to steal their ideas.
Titus Corleone
tituscorleone.com
Josh
Rolla,Missouri,
U.S.A.
You should have gotten a patent
#3Consumer Suggestion
Tue, November 30, 2004
If your invention was patentable, you should have gotten a patent. If you suggest an idea to a company and you don't have a patent, they don't owe you anything. Since you have disclosed the idea before filing for a patent, it is no longer eligible for protection. Next time you have an idea, get a patent first, and negotiate based on that.