Non-Disclosure Agreement Is Bright Idea

By Amy E. Feldman

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A Michigan man said he came to food manufacturing giant Heinz in 2008 with the greatest thing since ketchup on sliced bread - his so-called "Little Dipper" - a package for ketchup that allowed a person either to squeeze it by tearing off the top or dip something into it in the tray like the one for barbeque sauce dipping. After several meetings, Heinz contacted him in 2009 telling him they weren't interested.

One year later, Heinz came out with its Dip and Squeeze packaging that looks very similar to the little dipper. Heinz says the idea for packaging wasn't novel and they'd already worked on their design. The man sued.

Here's the thing. He never had a written contract with Heinz before he showed them his idea. And, while it is possible to create an enforceable contract that's not in writing when both parties understand the terms and come to an agreement, as they say, an unwritten contract is not worth the paper it isn't printed on because it's harder to prove - as a Pennsylvania jury just decided when it ruled AGAINST the man who said he invented it.

If you have a great idea, get a lawyer or go to the Internet to get a non-disclosure agreement before you show anyone your idea so they can't make a dip out of you or put the squeeze on you. Ok, I'm done.