How do I pitch this intellectual property?

[Wrecks Cars]

New Mexico:
This question is not New Mexico specific.

I have an intellectual property in the form of a tool that is going to solve a serious problem on the field in American football and revolutionize the way the game is played.

I want a specific NCAA team to test it under a licensing agreement that says they owe me nothing if it doesn't work, and they owe me a substantial one-time fee for unlimited use if it does---the details are not important to this question.

Here's the problem: I have no professional experience in football, and it will be extremely difficult for me to get an audience with the athletic department at any college. After all, no one in the history of football---college or pro---has ever been able to solve this problem, including today's multi-million-dollar coaches; what makes me think I can?

So, in order to get it in the door, I want to pitch it to a private multi-billionaire who has a passion and obsession for doing whatever it takes to put this particular team at the top of the football food chain. He could walk the idea right into the athletic director's office.

Should I have an attorney approach him, or should I do it myself?
Should it be casual, or should it be legal---non-disclosure agreement, etc.?
If any, what kind of attorney do I need: contract, IP, business, etc.?
How should I contact this gentleman?

I very much appreciate everyone's help.

[quincy]

You want to mess with American football???

I suggest you sit down with an IP attorney - a patent attorney will probably be your best bet - and discuss your revolutionary tool with him/her. He can advise you on the ins and outs of protecting your idea with a patent, before you pitch your idea to this private, football-loving, multi-billionaire.

Patent owners will often grant a license to a particular company to commercially exploit their invention, with the patent owner gettting royalties in return. This is what you may want to consider with the billionaire.

Most inventions will qualify for a utility patent - which is a new, nonobvious and useful invention (a process, a machine, a manufacture, a composition of matter, or an improvement on an existing idea). It sounds like your tool may fall into this category.

Design patents are issued on new and original designs, which could be the proper area for your tool, depending on what it is you invented.

And the third kind of patent available, a plant patent, would be of no interest to you, unless your invention in some way involves reproducible plants (as in a plant for football field turf, although most fields are now astroturf).

There is a patent attorney who posts here, if you would like to re-direct your question to him in the Patents section of the forum, for additional or, perhaps, different advice.

[Wrecks Cars]

Thanks, Quincy,
for all your gracious advice and your, no doubt serious, sense of humor.
I'll take your good advice and post this in the Patent section.

[quincy]

You're welcome, Wrecks Cars.

And, if your invention really does all that you believe it does, the University of Michigan would look good at the top of the "football food chain".

[Wrecks Cars]

Well, I tried to post this, and I think it didn't happen, so...

Michigan:
As a matter of fact, their penalty record is better than most, and fairly consistent. My program would put them in the spotlight. The good part? It cost nothing to try it.

I just pitched it to an insider for another team; however, one never knows.
I should have a reply soon.

If you can get me an audience with Michigan, well....

My goal is to see this on the field---anywhere.

Oh yes, non-disclosures usually have a "governing law" clause. If I have an NDA sighed in Texas, can the "governing law" state be NC?

Thanks

[quincy]

Yes, the governing law state can be North Carolina. Your NDA would include the definition of the confidential information, any exclusions from confidentiality, the obligations of the party receiving the confidential information, the time periods or terms (usually in years) of the confidentiality and how long the agreement is binding, and miscellaneous provisions.

The miscellaneous provisions should include which state's law will apply in the event there is a breach in the agreement. You can have this be North Carolina. You should also outline whether arbitration will be used to settle any dispute that might arise, and if attorney's fees will be awarded to whomever prevails in any dispute.

Basically, the NDA is used to set boundaries in advance of any disclosure, and is legally binding on all parties.

You should have an attorney review the NDA prior to use.

As for any connections I have to the University of Michigan and the Wolverines, I am still trying to work my way up to 50-yard-line season tickets. I have met the former coach, Lloyd Carr, but I would not consider him any sort of "connection" that could benefit you, I'm afraid. If he were any sort of connection, I'd have my 50 yard line tickets already.

And the new coach is an unknown quantity to me, so far. Sorry.

It is a relief to know that you are considering Texas if not Michigan (if that is what you just disclosed in your last post), because Michigan does not play Texas this year.