Problems of Crowdsourcing
Is there something quirky about Quirky, Inc.?
CNN’s program “The Next List”, profiled a product development company called, Quirky, Inc. The CEO and Founder, Ben Kaufman, made a statement that his company does not take an inventor’s idea – until Quirky, Inc. decides to commercialize the product. Certainly he could not mean that the company actually takes ownership of the idea. But a check of their websites confirms it - YES they actually take an assignment of all IP rights in the submitted idea. The text from their FAQ section states it plainly:
▼ What happens to intellectual property when I submit an idea to Quirky for consideration?
By submitting your idea to Quirky, you grant a license in all IP in the submission to Quirky and the Quirky community of users to consider and comment on your submission within the Quirky platform. If Quirky accepts your submission for further development and possibly eventual commercialization, you assign ownership in all IP in the submission to Quirky.
Later in the program, Mr Ben Kaufman explained how under their process an idea is placed on their website where numerous individuals may comment upon the product and “influence” its development. If the product is commercialized, not only does the initial idea submitter participate in the revenues, but all members who influenced the idea. The program highlighted one individual who stated his name was on a patent. Again looking at their website, this product is featured, it identified the inventor and states over 800 others have influenced the product’s development. While this is interesting, it poses a question of whether all 800+ individuals are named inventors on the patent. The USPTO’s FAQ section on Patents states the following:
5. If two or more persons work together to make an invention, to whom will the patent be granted?
A. If each had a share in the ideas forming the invention as defined in the claims – even if only as to one claim, they are joint inventors and a patent will be issued to them jointly on the basis of a proper patent application. If, on the other hand, one of these persons has provided all of the ideas of the invention, and the other has only followed instructions in making it, the person who contributed the ideas is the sole inventor and the patent application and patent shall be in his/her name alone.
While it is true that developing a new product on your own can be difficult, it may be worthwhile to learn the details of the type of help that is being offered before accepting such help.
Is Quirky legit?
Quirky earns 91% level of Trustworthiness
Perfect Trust Endorsement: Quirky achives 91% ligitmacy per Complaints Board. Highly recommended, yet always stay vigilant.
Quirky.com has a valid SSL certificate, which indicates that the website is secure and trustworthy. Look for the padlock icon in the browser and the "https" prefix in the URL to confirm that the website is using SSL.
Quirky.com has been deemed safe to visit, as it is protected by a cloud-based cybersecurity solution that uses the Domain Name System (DNS) to help protect networks from online threats.
Quirky.com you are considering visiting, which is associated with Quirky, is very old. Longevity often suggests that a website has consistently provided valuable content, products, or services over the years and has maintained a stable user base and a sustained online presence. This could be an indication of a very positive reputation.
The domain associated with Quirky is registered with a high-end registrar, which can be an indicator of the company's commitment to maintaining a secure and reputable online presence.
Quirky website is deemed to be popular and indicating that it receives a high volume of traffic. It is important to be cautious when using a highly trafficked website, as it may be a target for cybercriminals looking to exploit vulnerabilities or steal personal information.
Quirky.com appears to have online shopping features, it's important to know that the platform supports an extensive range of payment methods, making it convenient and easy to complete your transaction. The payment procedure on the website is also relatively simple and straightforward, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience for buyers.
However ComplaintsBoard has detected that:
- We conducted a search on social media and found several negative reviews related to Quirky. These reviews may indicate issues with the company's products, services, or customer support. It is important to thoroughly research the company and its offerings before making any purchases to avoid any potential risks.
Overview of Quirky complaint handling
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Quirky contacts
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Quirky phone numbers+1 (866) 545-4623+1 (866) 545-4623Click up if you have successfully reached Quirky by calling +1 (866) 545-4623 phone number 0 0 users reported that they have successfully reached Quirky by calling +1 (866) 545-4623 phone number Click up if you have UNsuccessfully reached Quirky by calling +1 (866) 545-4623 phone number 0 0 users reported that they have UNsuccessfully reached Quirky by calling +1 (866) 545-4623 phone number+1 (866) 578-4759+1 (866) 578-4759Click up if you have successfully reached Quirky by calling +1 (866) 578-4759 phone number 0 0 users reported that they have successfully reached Quirky by calling +1 (866) 578-4759 phone number Click up if you have UNsuccessfully reached Quirky by calling +1 (866) 578-4759 phone number 0 0 users reported that they have UNsuccessfully reached Quirky by calling +1 (866) 578-4759 phone number
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Quirky headquarters606 West 28th Street, Floor 7, New York, New York, 10001, United States
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Quirky social media
Recent comments about Quirky company
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I had an idea and went to Quirky and Affiliates. They listened to me and rejected the idea. After 6 months I have bought a new phone and I have used one of the applications. I was very surprised to see that this application was based on my idea. This company hasn’t told me before that they have used my idea. I wrote one angry email to these people, but they didn’t care and no one replied.