How can we safely hire an iPhone game developer?

My wife and I have a series of ideas for Apple iPhone Apps, but are not even close to programmers... What would you recommend for us? I am trying to start with writing a document that outlines the Apps...games. From there, do we just turn it over to a programmer? Do we need to worry about property rights, etc.?

Dave's Answer:

What an interesting question you ask!

Let's start with the most important question, about intellectual property. To be frank, there's always some risk when you hire an outside person to code for you, but I think that the risk is probably relatively minimal. The reality is that ideas are a dime a dozen anyway, and just about anyone who can program an iPhone app is probably busy developing 3-4 ideas of their own anyway!

In fact, from my own experience searching for an Apple iPhone developer who can help me with an AskDaveTaylor-related application, the hard part is finding a good programmer who will be able to achieve your vision for the game/program without asking for premium rates for their quite in-demand skills.

Let's go back to the intellectual property issue for a minute, though. One way you can protect yourself is to establish a reliable method of proving that you invented said game or application on a specific date. The easiest way is to simply write it down and mail it to yourself then leave the envelope unopened. The postmark establishes legal proof of when you inserted the contents and if you were in court, you could then open the envelope and show the judge you had the idea first.

A more formal version of this tactic is to have a very detailed specification that you print and mail to a lawyer friend (to establish the date of invention) prior to hiring a programmer. They just toss it in a file drawer with the same net effect. Again, it could also protect you if they ever claimed it was their idea or they'd already thought of it before you contacted them.

Finally, when you're interviewing potential software developers, if you're really worried that it's a million-dollar idea then play a bit coy when you're interviewing people ("I have an idea for a game kind of like Pac-Man meets Super Mario Cart" rather than "I attach my detailed spec of the game: are you interested?")

Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

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Comments

I would like to point out that the Patent and Trademark Office does not recognize the mail your self a letter method of date of origination.

You should talk to an I.P. lawyer in your state to see what they would do.

one thing you may want to look at is Preregistration, here is a link,
http://www.copyright.gov/prereg/help.html

Again, I.P. lawyers are the best source for information on Copyright Law and the only people who can give you real advice.

Posted by: Travis at October 25, 2008 1:56 AM

I would also recommend getting a non disclosure (NDA) in place before speaking with iPhone developers about your idea, should you be concerned about them taking it.

Posted by: iphone app developer at June 2, 2009 10:04 AM

Be careful which developers you hire. There are many amateur developers out there. Also I would suggest not hiring just any developers, but hire a developer who preferrablly has expertise in the app which you want to develop. For example, if you are looking to develop a novelty app, then try to find someone who has developed other novelty apps. Believe me, it will help in the whole process... Also be weary of their experience. The good thing is that with iPhone apps, you can easily verify their experience by asking for the apps they have on the app store.

Posted by: Leo Richardson at July 7, 2009 5:00 PM

I agree with the comment above. Having your developer sign an NDA is a good move on your part, since it is so easy to upload your app to the iTunes App Store, even after you've paid for it and its completed!

Posted by: Agaf Agaz at January 4, 2010 11:29 PM

I am a developer and also creating iphone and android apps.
in my opinion, for people who be able to create iphone apps, 9 out of 10, he/she is highly educated individual. this is why apple want to weed out those lower class web developers who were trying to write iphone apps by using third party API.

honestly, This is first time I have ever heard that people are worrying developers might stealing their ideas.

well, everyone is thinking they got a great idea, who doesn't? great idea is one thing, will it work is another.

if you are afraid of people stealing your idea, then don't tell anyone. even after you have successfully create a so-called killer website or iphone app. don't tell anyone and do not let anybody finding it.
if you do, the chance are, people could duplicate your idea in a month or less, trust me, they would do much better job than you did. guaranteed!

patent it if you can if you could afford for the fee.

google has lots of great ideas. how many people out there be able to duplicate it?

go to itune store, see how many farting apps out there. have any of those type of apps made a million buck yet?

good luck!

Posted by: john at April 27, 2010 12:50 AM

Dave, I agree that good developers come with a premium cost. When one wants to work with a good developer, a check of the sample applications developed and an NDA is mandatory. If it's a big project, I would recommend asking for references in US.

Posted by: Jude at August 23, 2010 10:45 PM

I have something to say, now that you mention it, but ...

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!