How an outside idea reaches a company, in its own words · checked 2026-10-29
How to sell an idea to Apple
Does not take outside ideas
Apple does not accept, review or consider ideas it did not ask for, and anything sent anyway becomes its property without pay. Its feedback forms take comments on existing products. It bought Beats, Shazam and PrimeSense.
“Apple and its employees and contractors do not accept, review or consider any unsolicited ideas, works, materials, proposals, suggestions, artwork, content or the like, including for advertising campaigns, promotions, products, services, technologies, product enhancements, processes, marketing strategies, product names, content or creative materials (all of the foregoing “submissions”).”
“Please provide only specific feedback on Apple’s existing products, services and marketing strategies using those forms; and do not send or provide any submissions other than using those forms.”
What you agree to by sending something
“You agree that: (1) your submissions and their contents along with related intellectual property rights will automatically become the property of Apple, without any compensation to you; (2) Apple may use or redistribute the submissions and their contents for any purpose and in any way on an unrestricted basis; (3) there is no obligation for Apple to review the submissions; and (4) there is no obligation to keep any…”
What it has bought from outside
2014
Beats Electronics from Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine $3 billion
“In May 2014, Apple officially announced its intention to acquire Beats Electronics for $3 billion, with Apple saying it would pay an initial $2.6 billion for Beats, and approximately $400 million "that will vest over time".…” en.wikipedia.org
2018
Shazam from Shazam Entertainment (UK) $400 million
“In December 2017, Apple Inc. announced its acquisition of Shazam for a reported $400 million (£300 million).…” en.wikipedia.org
2013
PrimeSense (3D sensing) from PrimeSense (Israel) $360 million
“PrimeSense was bought by Apple Inc. for $360 million on November 24, 2013.” en.wikipedia.org
Other companies that take an invention or product idea
