How Do I Submit My Innovation for Hunter’s Consideration?

Whether you are an individual inventor, a small business, or a large company, the way to bring your innovation to Hunter’s attention is to submit it via our Great Ideas website.

Why Does Hunter Use a Website to Receive Innovation Idea Submissions?

Hunter receives a high volume of open innovation idea submissions across the wide range of products and services that we offer. We are committed to ensuring that all submissions are reviewed by the right individuals in our Company as quickly as possible. Using an online innovation submission system enables us to manage this process efficiently, accurately gather all the key information needed for review, and respond to submitters in a timely manner.

What Information Does Hunter Need in Order to Decide Whether It Is Interested?

We need a clear, concise description that conveys the nature of the innovation and the unique features and benefits it offers relative to existing solutions, and the status of your intellectual property. If your submission is a response to one of our published innovation challenges, please address the criteria listed in the need statement. Our Great Ideas website enables you to attach supporting documents to your submission. If you have a granted patent or published patent application, please provide the patent number(s). Technical illustrations and photos may also be of help. Remember, all information submitted must be nonconfidential. Do not submit confidential information. We will not review any documents that are marked “Confidential” or the equivalent. The documents will be deleted from our portal and the submission will be declined.

My Innovation Is Neither Patented Nor Patent-Pending. May I Still Submit?

Patents and other forms of intellectual property are used to establish ownership, and protect the legal rights of the owners of various kinds of innovations and works. For your protection and ours, we may decline to review your open innovation idea submission if it appears to lack intellectual property protection. Hunter cannot advise you on whether or not to pursue a patent or other form of intellectual property protection. For more information regarding the nature of intellectual property and its uses, you may wish to consult your legal representative or appropriate government agencies (for example, the United States Patent and Trademark Office).

Will Hunter Sign a Nondisclosure Agreement Before I Share My Innovation?

No. Hunter will only consider nonconfidential information for its initial review of your submission. If, after our initial review of a submission, we find that we may have interest in learning more, we will contact you to discuss how to proceed and any needed agreements.

How Can I Arrange to Present My Innovation in Person?

Our initial review is based wholly on the nonconfidential information you provide in your open innovation submission. Face-to-face meetings, phone conferences, or live demonstrations are typically not required at this stage. It should take no longer than two weeks for our initial review. In the event that we need additional information or samples, we will contact you. In the meantime, we ask that you be patient and not contact our executives or other employees regarding your submission. Even if you have not yet heard from us, we are working on it.

Who Will Review My Submission and How Long Will It Take?

Each innovation is reviewed by our product innovation team who determines how to route it to ensure it reaches the relevant business and/or technical personnel within our Company. In many cases, this means review by other disciplines to evaluate technical merit or strategic business fit for Hunter. We are committed to reaching a decision as quickly as possible. However, a thorough initial review, especially of a technology innovation, may take longer to complete. We will make an attempt to respond within 10 working days after receipt of your submission.

If Hunter Likes My Submission, How Much Money Will Hunter Pay Me for It?

Compensation is an important component of any business deal. Value is determined through discussions between Hunter and the party that controls the rights to the intellectual property and its practice.

What Type of Business Deal With Hunter Could Result From My Submission?

The type of business relationship that might result from a submission of interest could take a variety of forms, depending upon the specifics of the innovation and both the potential partner’s and Hunter’s needs. This may take the form of a licensing or supply agreement, or other type of collaborative venture.

Why Might Hunter Decline to Pursue My Submission?

We realize that those who submit to the Great Ideas website desire feedback, including the reasons why we may decide to decline an opportunity. However, we are typically not at liberty to give detailed reasons. Generally speaking, submissions are most frequently declined for one or more of the following reasons:

• The proposed solution is already known to us.
• We already have work in progress in the area encompassed by the submission.
• The opportunity is not a strategic match with where we want to take our businesses or brands.
• The size of the opportunity does not fit with our business plans.
• There is a lack of protectable intellectual property associated with the submission.