How to PREVENT Suppliers From STEALING your Product Idea 💡

Summary

In this informative video, Kian Gozari, with 12 years of experience in China's manufacturing industry, shares tips on protecting product ideas from supplier theft. He advises on non-disclosure agreements, emphasizes building trust, and stresses the importance of design patents for true innovation. Kian also discusses the value of maintaining a strong brand identity and the futility of trying to prevent all imitation in a competitive market.

Takeaways

• 📝 Get a supplier to sign an NNN agreement for significant innovations, but be aware it might not start the relationship on the right foot.
• 🤝 Prioritize building a relationship with your manufacturer, as trust can be a stronger deterrent to copying than legal documents.
• 🚫 Understand that competitors, not necessarily suppliers, are often the ones copying your product.
• 💡 Self-awareness is key; evaluate if your innovation truly warrants an NNN agreement or if it's just a minor tweak to an existing product.
• 🛡️ Consider design or utility patents for substantial innovations to legally protect your product globally.
• 🏭 Maintain a good relationship with your supplier as it can deter them from sharing your ideas with others.
• 🔍 Start by sharing a similar product with suppliers to gauge their capabilities without revealing your innovation initially.
• 🤔 Embrace the nature of the industry where imitation and innovation go hand in hand; use it as motivation for continuous improvement.
• 🎉 View product copying as validation of your success and a sign that you're creating desirable products.
• 🛠️ Invest in molds for your product, and ensure your logo is embossed to create a barrier to unauthorized copying.
• 🏆 Building a strong brand is the ultimate protection; focus on brand loyalty and community over just the product itself.

Q & A

What is the primary concern addressed in the video script?

The video script addresses concerns about suppliers potentially stealing product ideas.

Who is the presenter of the video and what is his background?

The presenter is Kian Gozari, who has been living and working in China for 12 years, designing, developing, sourcing, and manufacturing over two and a half thousand different products.

What is the first tip given by Kian to protect an innovative product from suppliers?

The first tip is to get the supplier to sign a non-use, non-circumvention, and non-disclosure (NNN) agreement.

Why might an NNN agreement not be the best approach according to the video?

An NNN agreement might not start the relationship off on the right foot and enforcing it can be expensive and time-consuming, especially if it requires suing the supplier in China.

What is the presenter's view on who is more likely to copy a product?

Kian suggests that it's often a competitor who buys the product and sends it to another supplier to copy, rather than the original supplier.

What is the second tip provided for protecting an innovative product?

The second tip is to get a design patent or a utility patent on the actual product to prevent anyone from copying it.

What does Kian suggest as a method to build trust with suppliers?

Kian suggests sending an email to the supplier expressing the desire for a long-term relationship and asking for their trust not to share the design or product with others.

What is the presenter's advice on dealing with competitors who copy product designs?

Kian advises to view it as validation of good work and to use it as confidence to develop more products, rather than letting it cause frustration.

What is the significance of investing in molds for a product according to the video?

Investing in molds creates a high barrier to entry for others to copy the product, and it provides an opportunity to add a logo to the mold, making it unique and harder to replicate.

Why is building a brand considered a form of protection against product copying?

Building a brand and community means that customers buy products because of the brand, not just the lowest price or the product itself, making it difficult for others to compete even if they copy the product.

What is the presenter's final advice on how to handle product copying?

The final advice is to focus on creating a unique brand experience and community, as people can copy a product but they cannot copy the brand and the values it represents.