Unsolicited Ideas and Inventions

Revision Approved By: Casey Cullen 06/25/2013

Objectives

Document the process for handling the submission of unsolicited ideas and inventions, which is in line with corporate policy and helps protect Spectrum Brands and its employees from intellectual property liability, litigation and negative publicity.

Policy Summary

At times consumers solicit ideas for new products (including their inventions) to Spectrum Brands. While these solicitations may appear to be outwardly innocent business activity, they carry a very significant risk of intellectual property liability and litigation (not to mention negative publicity) to Spectrum Brands and its employees.

To avoid misunderstandings as to the origin of an idea, Spectrum Brands, Inc. (“Spectrum”) has developed guidelines as to the acceptance of unsolicited outside ideas. Spectrum’s guidelines provide that:

Spectrum Brands, Inc. accepts for review only ideas that are the subject of a patent or a published patent application. Spectrum Brands, Inc. does not accept ideas relating to the fields of advertising, sales promotion, artwork, product display or any suggested slogans, product names or trademarks.

Phone Agents

Recognize whether the consumer is soliciting an idea/invention, or just relaying a quality concern:
Quality Concern Identifiers – handle normally using existing procedures

• Usually calling about a product the consumer already possesses, has used, or has looked at
• More concerned with their personal experience, but may share a comment about how they feel a product could be better

Examples: “I’d like this more if it had a…”, “you need to make a product that [insert verb here] better”, “I want a product with a feature that…”, “you should do something so this doesn’t happen”, “you should add a part to prevent this”

Idea/Invention Solicitation Identifiers

• May not be calling about a specific or existing product
• States he or she wants to share their idea or invention
• May want to share documentation, drawings, etc.
• May ask to speak with an engineer

If the caller is soliciting an idea/invention:

• Do not ask questions about the idea/invention

• Do not comment on the vitality, appeal, marketability or otherwise evaluate the idea/invention

• Avoid any conversation that involves the description of the idea/invention

• As soon as possible, inform the caller that an inquiry of this nature must be made in writing

• Provide physical or email address based upon caller preference - the consumer can fill out the form directly:

https://www.spectrumbrands.com/submit-innovative-ideas.html

Email Agents

Unsolicited Idea – Marketing Related:
Thank you for contacting us with your idea. Spectrum Brands has a world-class team of talented professionals working in-house to creatively market our products. While we genuinely appreciate your feedback, in order to ensure our compliance with intellectual property laws we do not accept outside ideas relating to the fields of advertising, sales promotion, artwork, product display or any suggested slogans, product names or trademarks.

Unsolicited Idea - Without Patent:
Thank you for contacting us with your idea. Spectrum Brands shares your passion for quality, innovative products that enhance the lives of consumers. However, in order to ensure our compliance with intellectual property laws, Spectrum Brands, Inc. accepts for review only ideas that are the subject of a patent or a published patent application. Spectrum Brands, Inc. does not accept ideas relating to the fields of advertising, sales promotion, artwork, product display or any suggested slogans, product names or trademarks. If your idea is the subject of a granted patent or published patent application please send us a copy for our review.

Unsolicited - With Patent:
Thank you for contacting Spectrum Brands, Inc. with your idea. Your patent or published patent application has been forwarded to our Intellectual Property Counsel for review. You will receive a response directly from the Intellectual Property Department.