How to sell an idea to Amazon
No stated policy
Amazon does not say whether it reads outside ideas. Its terms say material you submit grants it a royalty-free, perpetual license. It bought Ring and Zappos.
Read off Amazon's own pages on
What you agree to by sending something
“If you do post content or submit material, and unless we indicate otherwise, you grant”
“Amazon a nonexclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, and fully sublicensable”
What it has bought from outside
- 2018
Ring (video doorbells) from Jamie Siminoff approximately $839 million
“On April 12, 2018, Ring was acquired by Amazon for approximately $839 million.…” en.wikipedia.org
- 2009
Zappos from Nick Swinmurn / Tony Hsieh around $1.2 billion
“In July 2009, Amazon acquired Zappos in an all-stock deal worth around $1.2 billion at the time.…” en.wikipedia.org
Other companies that take an invention or product idea
Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0 
en:User:DG, Public domain 
Nyttend, Public domain 
Ralff Nestor Nacor, CC BY-SA 4.0 
Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0 
Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France, CC BY 2.0 
掬茶, CC BY-SA 3.0 
Leefisher91, CC BY-SA 4.0