Weber’s legal notice treats anything sent to it as non-confidential and leaves Weber free to use the ideas in it without pay. It bought the gas-grill maker Ducane and the smart-oven company June.
“Any communication or material you transmit to the Site or Weber Media by electronic mail or otherwise, including any data, questions, comments, suggestions, pictures or the like (“User Generated Content”) is and will be treated as non-confidential and non-proprietary.”
“Further, Weber is free to use, without compensation to you, any ideas, concepts, know-how or techniques contained in any User Generated Content for any purpose whatsoever, including but not limited to developing, manufacturing and marketing products.”
What it has bought from outside
2004
Ducane gas grills from Ducane (bankruptcy sale) $13.6 million
“Ducane filed for bankruptcy in 2003 and was partially acquired by Weber-Stephens at a bankruptcy sale in 2004 for $13.6 million.” en.wikipedia.org
2021
June (smart oven) from June Life shareholders $142.2 million
“In 2021, it was announced that June, a home automation company specializing in kitchen appliances including a "smart" oven, was acquired by Weber for $142.2 million.” en.wikipedia.org
Other companies that take an invention or product idea
