Q: I have been working in industrial design for almost 20 years. Recently a friend told me about a design idea he had proposed for his daughter, who is just starting out in her design career. The idea, which is linked to the 2010 World Cup, would make her lots of money if she were to follow through with it. Since being given this idea two months ago it seems that she has still done nothing about it. For my part, I have thought about little else and really think that with some improvements it could really be a money spinner. I want to put in a proposal, but feel I am stealing their idea. Should I just be ruthless and go ahead with it?So--what would you do? And we wanna hear what you'd do before you read Mr. Morality's answer, here.
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You are the person with the experience, you can help that girl a big deal with your advice - she obviously hasn't understood her idea's potential to the degree you are able to foresee.
Offer her your advice, or a collaboration, and share the profits evenly. That way you are not ripping her off or "stealing" her idea, but she will also not feel patronized.
It also will be a helpful starter's lesson for her that in the design world it is about money and you don't get things for free.
I would ask the dad if he is interested in getting involved. He seems like an easier person to work with (more experience), and he is also the originator of the "idea" at hand, technically the one "intellectually owning" the idea property. So ask if he will sell it? Write a contract, maybe he gets 10% if it does indeed make money, but just to assume something is a "winner" is also a shot in the foot, that kinda omits the design process.
The girl sounds ummm how do I say this, LAZY! And she needs to learn a good design lesson. She's given an idea, and does nothing with it..... I think the dad is probably like, what did I pay all that money for school for? Time for "real life school" lesson 101.
Let me tell you that in a typical undergraduate business class, if this question was posed to a room full of students, over 70% would answer that the idea should be stolen. This is something that I truly disagree with.
I am SO glad you guys/gals said to collaborate, it really justifies my switch to this field!
The answer is....it's unbelievably lame that you're even *considering* taking the idea yourself.
The right thing to do: tell her about your improvements, offer support and sounding board, don't ask for anything in return.
Do you really have so few decent ideas that you're considering stealing them from a new grad? I think that's the saddest thing I've heard in a long time...
Putting your money where your mouth is. Ditch her in a respectful, legal and polite manner.
Buy her out and sign paper work to the effect. Carry the idea to realization without the under-ambitious collaborator.
I just can't see how it would be ethical to take the idea and run with it without the permission of the other parties.
Profit over friendship? Your choice I suppose.