The recent programming of YouTube Instant by a student in the US and posted on Twitter was an instant hit with the boss of YouTube. While it took years and presumably a significant amount of resources for Google to develop Google Instant, Ferross Aboukhadijeh developed a similar version of the software for YouTube in a few hours. Shortly after Ferross posted the link to his work on Twitter, the Head of YouTube rang and offered him a job.
Examples of this kind show that there are many people out there with undiscovered ideas and capabilities and lots of opportunities to help to fill the innovation pipelines of large multinationals. With the spread of the internet to over one billion people, the huge potential for companies to uncover the “next Google” is obvious. Unsurprisingly, this opportunity is now being exploited by companies through “open innovation” drives, where invention submissions are rewarded with cash prizes or partnership opportunities. Notable companies engaging in such initiatives include Procter & Gamble, General Electric, PepsiCo, and Dell.
While these initiatives can be great for both the inventor and company, the inventor must still be mindful of their intellectual property position and ensure they are not taken advantage of by “selling the farm”. It’s always wise to talk to a commercialisation or intellectual property expert before proceeding with any such disclosure.
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