Fear, it’s our friend, right? Not always. Most times, fear appears as a defense mechanism, designed to protect our best interests and to tell us to shelter ourselves from bodily harm or mental anguish. However, too much fear can quickly lead us down a frightening path of mounting anxiety, guiding us to eventual paranoia. For inventors and new product developers this has become an unfortunate stereotype, regrettably based upon true stories. All inventors and new product people believe their ideas are worth millions and they believe everyone else will want to cash in if they discover these ideas. Whether this is true or not depends on the idea, but for some it’s a true fear.

History demonstrates cases where inventors were bilked out of millions by the corporations. Look no further than the inventor of the intermittent windshield wiper system — which regulates the delay and degree of wiping for automobile windshields. Dr. Robert Kearns patented the innovation, which is still in use today, in 1967. Knowing in his heart he had a fantastic idea that would become a necessity for car owners, Dr. Kearns approached Detroit’s finest automobile makers with the device. None wanted anything to do with Dr. Kearns. To understand why they turned him down, you need to understand the mentality of most major corporations. Dr. Kearns was soliciting the absolute experts in the field of automobile design. Imagine, the arrogance of an outsider stepping through the pearly gates of the automotive kings and telling them how to make a better windshield wiper system. Or, at least that’s probably how the car manufacturers viewed it. “If it’s so great, Dr. Kearns, than our engineers already created it,” they might have told the inventor. So, Dr. Kearns left Detroit with his tail between his legs. But it was only a matter of time before he noticed that almost every single major manufacture was now selling cars with an intermittent windshield wiper system. Dr. Kearns felt that his idea was stolen, while the automakers contended that his creation was something their teams were already working on. Eventually, after what would become one of the most famous individual versus corporation patent cases, the Supreme Court ruled that these companies violated Dr. Kearns patent.

In these times, corporations force inventors who seek licensing on their own to sign one-sided agreements before they’ll allow them to submit a new product or invention idea. Some of these legally-binding documents go so far as to remove inventors completely from their creations once they submit their invention. So, it’s safe to say that when dealing with corporations alone, use caution. Your fear often urges you to use that caution in places like this. On the other side, it’s this same type of paranoia that leads corporations to turn independent inventors away. No one wants to end up in a lawsuit, especially one as long, painful and expensive as Dr. Kearns’s.

However, don’t let your fear develop you into delusion or paranoia. It can hurt you. Refusing to show your idea to anyone out of fear can hurt you. If you’re serious about inventing and new product development, you’ll eventually have to show your new product idea to someone. That’s when signing confidentiality documents, like the Davison Idea Security Agreement, make the difference. When working with a developer on your idea, you need to know that they won’t steal your idea and that they’ll treat you and your idea with the respect each deserves.

Finally, don’t allow your fear to hold you back from improving your creation. Change is good. Finding better ways to manufacture your idea, design it and put it into use will often mean the difference between a new product reaching the creation phase or being left stranded to die on the vine.

Ideas are powerful and we can become consumed by their power. So, keep your head on straight. With the proper balance of fear and risk-taking an inventor or new product person will find a path to walk.