Project Red Stripe
Oh sure.
[from Project Red Stripe]We're a small team set up by The Economist Group, the parent company of the eponymous newspaper. Our mission is to develop truly innovative services online. We already have some ideas, of course. But as champions of free markets, we abhor the concept of a closed system. This is why we would like you to submit your idea (or ideas). Just think big - and we'll do the rest.
I will submit my big idea, and agree to Red Stripe's terms and conditions -- which basically says I will get zilch and they keep everything -- in exchange for a six month subscription to The Economist!
Tagged as idea thieves.
[pointer from Doc Searls]
project+red+stripe the+economist idea+thieves
I said thanks but no thanks!
Posted by: Euan Semple | March 20, 2007 at 03:32 PM
Does this mean my free idea won't have to compete with your amazing free idea, Stowe? I'd hate to give anything away, but let's just say the Economist isn't printed on broadsheet in the UK (they told me to think BIG!). What does more space mean? More hyperlinks.
Posted by: N.Cauldwell | March 20, 2007 at 03:57 PM
I would totally agree from a developer standpoint, because I understand the value of an idea, and my own company is capable of acting on good ideas to make them reality, so why would I give anyone else my good ideas?
BUT... if I were just looking for a user or reader who wanted to make helpful suggestions about cool features, how else would I, as a developer solicit them? Stowe, I really thought you were open to crowdsourcing, me-centricity, and giving users what they want. If I incorporate someone's suggestion into my product, what am I bound to give them? Do you develop products in a suggestionless vaccuum, Stowe? And if you took one of my suggestions, do I suddenly get a stake in the company? I think you are way over-reaching here.
Humbly Yours,
Carter Harkins
CrowdAbout.us
Posted by: Carter Harkins | March 20, 2007 at 06:54 PM
The problem.
Ideas need to be defined...
Not all ideas are equal...
This will be a problem as companies try to get ideas from their consumers.
Dell I believe has hundreds of suggestions on their new site IDEASTORM, to my knowledge, they aren't planning on paying for anu one of them.
That makes The Economist's offer seem rather generous..
Posted by: Edward Cotton | March 20, 2007 at 08:09 PM
Nial - I have no idea what you are saying.
Edward - Still, I think if you have a good idea, there may be better ways to move forward with it.
Carter - I am into crowdsourcing, etc., but I also believe that participation should involve partial ownership, or at least retaining the rights to your ideas.
Posted by: Stowe Boyd | March 21, 2007 at 10:14 AM