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Ask HN: How to monetize unpatentable idea?

3 pointsby grokkableover 10 years ago
I have been sitting on an idea for a few months which is quite simply an extension of already existing functionality which is basic to most programs. This is one of those &quot;doh!&quot; things where people will wonder why nobody had thought of it before. It will add intiutive functionality, make things far more accessible, and probably have far more uses then I&#x27;ve thought of. It will also have no problem garnering tons of press. I have a working prototype, but that is irrelevant. Once I release it, the idea will be picked up and incorporated into everything. While it does require some coding, it is really that simple.<p>The question is, how can I monetize the idea with a general implementation (or any way at all)? There is no way to make ad money as this will not involve going to a website or any possible ad placement at all.<p>Do I need to form an llc or something, release the technology as say a free extension to one program, and then sell the company whereupon some corporation can then claim they &quot;bought the technology?&quot; I&#x27;m really at a loss here as I am terrible with people (which I&#x27;m fine with) and do not have any social or business capacity whatsoever. I have no prolem spending a few months writing a freely useable extension and building a website for it, but I do not want to go into business. I just want to release an implementation and sell the company which I released the product under. This is totally feasible as I&#x27;ve seen corporations license similar, but far less useful technology which is not patented, and which they could have hired a team to incorporate into their own programs instead of licensing it. The point is, I&#x27;m not going into business. I sat in a cube for a long time and am now going to school and pursuing my own research projects which is what I&#x27;m going to continue doing regardless.<p>Any suggestions, advice, books, help, etc.. would be greatly appreciated.

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