Legal Aspects Of Selling Ideas

I live in Pennsylvania & am wondering what legal aspects I need to be concerned w/when it comes to approaching established companies/businesses to 'sell' ideas to them as an independent party.
I have heard of this thing being done before but know no one who has actually done this.

Basically, I would like to be financially compensated for providing new product & marketing information/suggestions which are beneficial to both the business & the customers.

I do not know how to approach the companies, w/o first knowing my legal rights. I do not want to give them details of what I have to offer because who's to say that they won't just hear my idea & reject me yet end up using my ideas to their benefit anyway. I've heard of things like that happening.
So, where do I start to make sure that my ideas are 'my own' so to speak.

And the same goes for actually developing a product & then approaching a manufacturer.
How can I protect my own best interests when I present these companies my ideas/products???

Any advice would be helpful.

Melissa Davis

While you can try to get firms to sign an agreement promising confidentiality, most won't UNLESS you have a very established record and great credibility, and they know and trust you.

If your invention would qualify for patent protection, then see a patent ;awyer, start the process and then try to sell or license it. If the patent issues, you'd be protected. And the lawyer can advise you too.