Can a company steal my idea?
What follows is what each company says you agree to when you send it something: that nothing is confidential, that it owes you nothing, that it may already be working on the same thing. Read before you send.
In the companies' own words
“Netflix does not accept unsolicited materials or ideas for Netflix content and is not responsible for the similarity of any of its content or programming in any media to materials or ideas transmitted to Netflix.”
“In connection with anything you submit to us – whether or not solicited by us – you agree that creative ideas, suggestions or other materials you submit are not being made in confidence or trust and that no confidential or fiduciary relationship is intended or created between you and us in any way, and that you have no expectation of review, compensation or consideration of any type.”
“This is to avoid the possibility of future misunderstanding when projects developed by Warner staff or representatives might seem to others to be similar to their submitted concepts, creative ideas, suggestions, stories, scripts, or other potential creative content.”
“In the event you do send us an Unsolicited Submission, you understand and agree that your Unsolicited Submission does not create any fiduciary relationship between you and Warner and that we are under no obligation to refrain from using the Unsolicited Submission (in whole or in part), to keep it confidential, or to compensate you for our use of it.”
“Any similarity between an unsolicited submission and any elements in any CBS creative work would be purely coincidental.”
“Any Unsolicited Ideas and Materials you submit are deemed UGC and licensed to us as set forth below.”
“SPE’s receipt of your Unsolicited Ideas and Materials is not an admission by SPE of their novelty, priority, or originality, and it does not impair SPE’s right to contest existing or future intellectual property rights relating to your Unsolicited Ideas and Materials.”
“By making a Submission, you grant us a non-exclusive, unrestricted, unconditional, unlimited, worldwide, irrevocable, perpetual, transferable and cost-free right and license to host, store, use, display, reproduce, modify, adapt, edit, combine with other materials, publish, distribute, create derivative works from, promote, exhibit, broadcast, syndicate, sublicense (including, without limitation, to third party…”
“Our receipt of your Submissions is not an admission of their novelty, priority, or originality, and it does not impair our right to existing or future intellectual property rights relating to your Submissions.”
“Should you share any Unsolicited Submission despite this request, you do so with the understanding that you will not receive any fees or other consideration, that it may be deemed User Content hereunder and subject to the license and all other terms and conditions above, and that you are waiving any claims regarding the use thereof.”
“We wish to avoid any misunderstandings when projects developed by or on behalf of MGM may seem to others to be similar to their own creative ideas or materials.”
“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…”
“A non-exclusive licensing agreement that allows Angel Studios to stream the Torch in the Angel Guild for the purpose of gauging interest from the audience”
“This is to avoid any misunderstandings if your ideas are similar to those we have developed independently.”
“Productions is free to use any ideas, concepts, know-how, or techniques contained in any communication you send to the Site for any purpose whatsoever including, but not limited to, developing, manufacturing and marketing products using such information.”
“It is our intent to avoid the possibility of future misunderstandings when projects developed by or on behalf of Legend (whether internally or by third parties) might seem to others to be similar to their own creative ideas or materials.”
“However, if you decide to make any such unsolicited submission, you hereby grant to Legend the right and license to the submission as if it were User Content as set forth above.”
“Any similarity between an unsolicited submission and any elements in any Skydance creative work would be purely coincidental.”
“If you send us creative suggestions, ideas, notes, photographs, screenplays, artwork, or any other creative materials (“Submissions”) despite our request and direction not to do so, you acknowledge and agree that your Submission includes a grant to us of a non-exclusive, unrestricted, unconditional, unlimited, worldwide, irrevocable, perpetual, transferable, and royalty-free right and license to host, store, use,…”
“This is to avoid any misunderstandings if your ideas are similar to those we have developed independently.”
“Disclosure, submission, or offer of any submissions to the Site shall constitute an assignment to Focus Features of all worldwide rights, titles, and interests in all copyrights and other intellectual property rights in such submission.”
“In connection with anything you submit to us – whether or not solicited by us – you agree that creative ideas, suggestions or other materials you submit are not being made in confidence or trust and that no confidential or fiduciary relationship is intended or created between you and us in any way, and that you have no expectation of review, compensation or consideration of any type.”
“This is to avoid the possibility of future misunderstanding when projects developed by HBO staff or representatives might seem to others to be similar to the submitted concepts, creative ideas, suggestions, stories or other potential content.”
“HBO will consider anything you provide to HBO and/or contribute to this Service as available for our use free of any obligations to you”
“You must not communicate any User Ideas to A+E Global Media (such as, without limitation, through email or transmissions to or through the Sites) that you consider to be confidential or proprietary, and any User Ideas shall be deemed non-confidential.”
“you hereby grant A+E Global Media a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, irrevocable, sublicenseable and transferable license to use, reproduce, exhibit, distribute, prepare derivative works of and display the User Ideas”
“However, if you decide to make any such unsolicited submission, you hereby grant to NBCUniversal the right and license to the submission as if it were User Content as specifically set forth above.”
“NBCUniversal’s receipt of your unsolicited ideas and materials is not an admission by NBCUniversal of their novelty, priority, or originality, and it does not impair NBCUniversal’s right to contest existing or future intellectual property rights relating to your unsolicited ideas and materials.”
“This is to avoid the possibility of a future misunderstanding when projects developed by WBD staff or representatives might seem to others to be similar to the submitted concepts, creative ideas, suggestions, stories or other potential content.”
“This is to avoid the possibility of a future misunderstanding when projects developed by WBD staff or representatives might seem to others to be similar to the submitted concepts, creative ideas, suggestions, stories or other potential content.”
“In the event you do send us an Unsolicited Submission, you understand and agree that your Unsolicited Submission does not create any fiduciary relationship between you and Warner and that we are under no obligation to refrain from using the Unsolicited Submission (in whole or in part), to keep it confidential, or to compensate you for our use of it.”
“This is to avoid the possibility of future misunderstanding when projects developed by Warner staff or representatives might seem to others to be similar to their submitted concepts, creative ideas, suggestions, stories, scripts, or other potential creative content.”
“Any communication and/or submission(s) (collectively, “Submissions”) made on any Fremantle Site, including, but not limited to, any notes, reviews, bulletin board postings, ideas, suggestions, concepts, artwork, photographs and sound and video files will become the property of Fremantle and can be used in any manner or form throughout the world without any time or other restrictions.”
“But the Sharks aren't just out to invest; they too have a goal – to own a piece.”
“You agree with respect to any Comments provided by you to us, via e-mail or otherwise, that: (i) Spin Master has no obligation concerning such Comments; (ii) such Comments are non-confidential; (iii) Spin Master may use, disclose, distribute or copy such Comments and may use any ideas, concepts or know-how contained in such Comments for any purpose and without restriction or obligation to you; and (iv) such Comments…”
“If you nevertheless provide suggestions, ideas, or feedback (“Feedback”), you agree that we may use them without restriction or compensation and that such Feedback is non‑confidential.”
“Of course, submitting an idea through this website does not mean it is unique and that you have exclusive rights to the “idea” behind it, because many submitted concepts may already exist in the world or be very similar to others.”
“In other words, no confidential relationship is established by Your submission or implied from consideration of the submitted materials, and the materials are not submitted “in confidence.””
“Unless You enter into a specific Mattel Royalty Agreement, You will not receive any monetary payments, whether based on a royalty or otherwise.”
“MGA will not respond to you regarding your Submissions, and your Submissions will not be returned to you and will not be treated as confidential information.”
“MGA is under no obligation to use or compensate you for your Submissions.”
“Except as set forth in our Privacy Policy, and in the event we review same, any submission by you to JAKKS, including, without limitation, any data, questions, comments, suggestions, or the like, will not be treated as confidential, and we will not be liable for any use or disclosure.”
“By your submission, you hereby waive any claims, including, without limitation, moral rights, privacy rights, proprietary or other property rights, publicity rights, and right to credit for the material or ideas contained therein, and as permitted by applicable law, JAKKS shall have the worldwide, perpetual right, without any compensation or credit to you, to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, broadcast,…”
“If you send us Unsolicited Materials, despite our request, you assign all rights, including all intellectual property rights, in those Unsolicited Materials to Moose.”
“Without limiting the foregoing, Moose may use the Unsolicited Materials for any and all purposes, world-wide and in perpetuity without any compensation to you.”
“You understand that we may use such Feedback for any purpose, commercial or otherwise, without acknowledgment or compensation to you, including to develop, copy, or publish the Feedback, to improve Products or Services, or develop new products or services, in Funko’s sole discretion.”
“You understand that Funko may treat Feedback as nonconfidential.”
“Furthermore, we are free to use any ideas, concepts, know-how, or techniques contained in any communication you send to the Website, including but not limited to developing, manufacturing, and marketing products using such information.”
“Melissa & Doug is not obligated to pay you for your Submission or keep your Submission confidential, except as specifically provided in these Terms & Conditions.”
“Therefore, we may have already seen your idea, or something similar.”
“We may already be working on or may in the future work on a similar idea.”
“You further understand that we shall exclusively own all known or hereafter existing rights to the idea everywhere in the world, and that such idea is hereby irrevocably assigned to us.”
“This is to avoid any misunderstandings if your ideas are similar to those we have developed or are developing independently.”
“Any unsolicited ideas you submit to Schleich will be deemed to be licensed to Schleich, as defined above.”
“Such Information shall remain the property of PLAYMOBIL and PLAYMOBIL shall be free to use any ideas, concepts, submissions, know-how or techniques contained in such Information for any purpose whatsoever, including, but not limited to, developing, manufacturing and marketing products and other items incorporating such Information without compensation to the provider of such Information.”
“MGA will not respond to you regarding your Submissions, and your Submissions will not be returned to you and will not be treated as confidential information.”
“DISCLOSURE OF YOUR SUBMISSION DOES NOT ESTABLISH A CONFIDENTIAL RELATIONSHIP, OR ANY OTHER RELATIONSHIP, BETWEEN YOU AND RADIO FLYER.”
“By reviewing your invention, Radio Flyer is not entering into an agreement to compensate you.”
“All Submissions will forever be the property of Ty.”
“Under no circumstances will Ty be required to treat any Submission as confidential.”
“Ty will be entitled to use the Submission for any commercial or other purpose whatsoever, without compensation to you or any other person sending the Submission.”
“The Disclosing Party acknowledges that Goliath receives many concepts and ideas, which may be similar to the Confidential Information.”
“Neither this Agreement nor the receipt of the Confidential Information shall constitute or imply any intention by Goliath to the Disclosing Party to pursue further evaluation or licensing of the Confidential Information.”
“We do not co-publish games, as we seek the full rights to the games we publish, with royalties paid monthly only to the designer and Automa Factory.”
“Please note that when you provide us with any submission, such as a review, comment, suggestion or idea, you will retain ownership of all copyright in the data you submit but agree to grant us with a world-wide non-exclusive (which means that we can grant the same licence to other people), royalty-free, non-terminable licence so that we may use, copy, distribute, publish and transmit such data in any manner without…”
“The Submissions shall be deemed non-confidential and non-proprietary.”
“Ubisoft may use, redistribute, or disclose the Submissions worldwide without any restriction, in any way and for any purpose whatsoever, commercial or otherwise, without any compensation or credit obligation to you or any third party.”
“Often in our industry, an idea being submitted will be identical or similar to one already used by other companies, or already being independently developed by or for a company.”
“If you ignore this request, any such materials, comments, suggestions or other information submitted by you to Valve will become the property of Valve, with Valve exclusively owning all known and hereafter existing rights to such materials, and you acknowledge and agree not to contest Valve's rights to use and disclose such materials in any manner and for any purpose, commercial or otherwise, without compensation to…”
“Any feedback, comments, or suggestions (collectively “Feedback”) you may provide regarding or relating to the Services is entirely voluntary, you hereby grant us a perpetual, irrevocable, royalty free, fully paid, worldwide license to us to such Feedback and we will be free to use such Feedback as we see fit and without any obligation to you.”
““UGC” includes all digital content or communications that users create, upload, or distribute via the Services, including but not limited to: text, posts, audio, or audio-visual communications; code, scripts, textures, models, maps, files, or other assets or documents; photos, images, video, or any other audio or audio-visual works; and any feedback or suggestions related to the Services.”
“If you do hold any such rights to Your UGC, including any copyright or other intellectual property interest, then, in exchange for the rights licensed to you in this Agreement, you hereby grant us an irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive and sublicensable right to use, reproduce, edit, modify, adapt, create derivative works based on, publish, distribute, transmit, publicly display, communicate to the…”
“Square Enix may use or redistribute the Material (including any ideas therein) for any purpose whatsoever, commercial or otherwise, without any restriction, and without any compensation to you or any third party.”
“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…”
“If you choose to give us feedback, such as suggestions to improve our services, we may act on your feedback without obligation to you.”
“The sole purpose of this policy is to avoid potential misunderstandings or disputes when Microsoft's products or marketing strategies might seem similar to ideas submitted to Microsoft.”
“If, despite our request that you not send us your ideas and materials, you still send them, please understand that Microsoft makes no assurances that your ideas and materials will be treated as confidential or proprietary.”
“But we may use feedback and other suggestions without any restriction or obligation to compensate you, and we are under no obligation to keep them confidential.”
“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”
“Both solicited and unsolicited submissions (collectively “Submissions”) will be treated as non-confidential and non-proprietary in each instance.”
“Any submission may be used by Samsung without restriction for any purpose whatsoever, including, without limitation, reproduction, disclosure, transmission, publication, broadcast or posting, and you hereby irrevocably waive, release and give up any claim that any use of such submission violates any of your rights, including, without limitation, copyrights, trademarks, patents, moral rights, privacy rights,…”
“However, any Feedback you send us is provided on a non-confidential basis and you grant NIKE and its subsidiaries and affiliates a license to use such Feedback for any purpose, commercial or otherwise, without compensation or acknowledgement to you, including, but not limited to, for the purpose of developing, manufacturing, and marketing products and services.”
“As clearly stated in the submission conditions, it is a strict condition of your use of the site that Unilever will not be obliged to keep confidential anything you send us at this stage of the discussions.”
“There will be no reward for submissions on technical challenges in the initial stages.”
“Each year, our Company receives a large volume of ideas and suggestions and our experience has shown us that many of these have already been developed independently or considered in our system.”
“DO NOT SUBMIT INFORMATION THAT YOU WISH TO KEEP CONFIDENTIAL.”
“You further agree that PepsiCo is free to use any ideas, concepts, know-how that you or individuals acting on your behalf provide to PepsiCo.”
“There will be no reward for your submission on Technical Challenges in the initial stages.”
“(1) All concepts, suggestions, ideas, or other recommendations that you communicate to Kraft Heinz through this Site in any format (an “Idea Submission”) becomes and remains our property, even if this agreement is later terminated.”
“We don't have to treat any such Idea Submission as confidential.”
“If we use your Idea Submission -- or anything like them -- we don't have to pay you or anyone else for them.”
“However, 3M has a policy that does not allow 3M or its employees to accept on a confidential basis, or to agree to hold in confidence, any unsolicited ideas, suggestions, proposals, product concepts, and the like.”
“Your submission and its contents automatically become the property of 3M, without any compensation of any kind owed to you;”
“The owners of this site shall be free to use or copy all other information in any such communications, including any ideas, inventions, concepts, techniques or know-how disclosed therein, for any purposes.”
“PLEASE DO NOT POST OR SEND US ANY USER CONTENT, IDEAS, SUGGESTIONS, OR OTHER USER CONTENT THAT YOU WISH TO KEEP PRIVATE OR PROPRIETARY OR FOR WHICH YOU EXPECT TO RECEIVE COMPENSATION.”
“By sending any ideas, concepts, know-how, proposals, techniques, suggestions or other User Content to us, you agree that: (i) we are free to use such User Content for any purpose, (ii) such User Content will be deemed not to be confidential or proprietary (iii) we may have something similar already under consideration or in development, and (iv) you are not entitled to any compensation or reimbursement of any kind…”
“There will be no reward for your initial submission of an idea through this portal.”
“Whirlpool may use or redistribute the Submissions and their contents for any purpose and in any way on an unrestricted basis by way of you granting a perpetual, global, royalty-free, unrestricted license to any intellectual property rights related to the Submissions;”
“Whirlpool has no obligation to keep any Submissions confidential.”
“If Ford has something in development similar to an idea that might be submitted from outside the Company, this can cause confusion about the origin of the idea.”
“Any comments, suggestions, or feedback relating to the Sites (collectively "Feedback") submitted to Toyota shall become the property of Toyota.”
“Your submissions and their contents will automatically become the property of Uber, without any compensation to you;”
“Uber has no obligation to keep your submissions confidential.”
“Acceptance of a submission does not imply we’ll use your idea or that you’ll receive any compensation.”
“There will be no reward for your submission on Technical Challenges in the initial stages.”
“Often people send us their suggestions for things we may have already tried.”
“The Ideas you submit are voluntary, non-confidential, gratuitous and non-committal.”
“Please do not send us Ideas if you expect to be paid or want to continue to own or claim rights in them; your Ideas might be great, but we may have already had the same or similar idea and we do not want disputes.”
“Starbucks shall own exclusive rights, including all intellectual property rights, to any work it creates or has created from the Idea or a similar idea of its own.”
“Image Comics publishes creator-owned/creator-generated properties and WE DON’T PAY PAGE RATES.”
“This agreement protects Dark Horse from any liabilities involving coincidental similarities to works-in-progress or other submissions.”