Hi,

I have seen similar or almost same question in this forum, there were some very useful discussion happened. Rather than you wait for your answer, you can find the same thread.
I am 100% sure, I saw the same question and very well answered from many people.
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Drupal Module Developers, theme designer
Drupal Developers, theme designer, Hire Drupal Developers

Hi kai_63,

I have a software that I use to protect my ideas - I do coding so I am protecting my codes. I am not sure if it can be applied to your problem though since mine is limited to computers, yours requires verbal talking.

If you want to try putting your business idea in writing though and you want to protect it from possible copying you can try checking this site: http://www.webtoolmaster.com/wtm_e.htm

Good luck!
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EXE Bundle - Bundle more exe files in one startable file.

Hi kai_63,

I've got the same question! You're not alone and stupid, naive or whatever.... heheh... Anyways, I'll be following this thread since I also need help regarding this matter... But I think, protecting ideas is next to impossible since this is a very complicated matter... For the time being, I guess we'll just have to keep it to ourselves first or only share info to people we truly trust.
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Melissa Dalmacio
Entertainment Blog
World Travel Guide

I have been thinking about this too. But I have actually chosen not to worry about it. The reason is that, they are your ideas. No-one truly knows what you are thinking. Ideas need development no matter at what stage they are in the process. No two products will end up the same. What will truly set your business apart from the copy cats is YOU. Your goals. Your vision. I would have thought you would have invested a part of yourself in your ideas. I certainly have (mine that is). If you are motivated and focused enough to fight off competition from others in the early stages this will put you in a great position for when you business finally does take off and you have bigger more aggressive competitors to contend with. That's my personal opinion. So my advice would be to seek as much advice and support externally as possible and be prepared to look upon any potential imitators as an exciting challenge that will force your business to grow.

No.This isn't a stupid question at all. Of course, all of us want to protect our own ideas and in the world of business, it is very important to keep your ideas confidential as much as possible. It is a very painful thing to know that somebody stolen your work and the credit has been given to him. but i am not saying that you only do good to ask for something in return. No. I mean, it is nice to put up your ideas and if it booms, then you can share bits and pieces of your successful endeavor.
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Ventrilo Servers
smithmountainlake

Hi
I think llmohj3 has summed it up best and if you follow that route,you wont go wrong. An idea cannot be copyrighted but its your idea and always try to keep a bit back.
Good Luck
tigeress

Hi kai,

Protecting your idea is always difficult and can sometimes hinder you when trying to instil your vision in others as you often find yourself holding back information. Particularly if talking to potential investors or web designers then I would recommend getting them to sign a Confidentiality Agreement as this basically is an agreement that anything discussed is to be kept between the two parties and cannot be discussed or used to benefit others.

This would also give you some protection against people stealing your idea to an extent, although as pointed out above, you can always tweak a business idea and make it radically different and often better.

But just thought it worth mentioning.

Good Luck

Allly

The best thing to do is to get your business registered when developing a new product/service idea. Of course, the idea is bound to be duplicated at some point in time, but doing so will make you the inventor of the particular niche.

Best wishes, and good luck,
Alvin
Business Logo Design
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Sports News Latest Sports News Daily Sports All Sports

The best thing you can do is to not post them on this forum.

The stated aim of this particular forum is to bounce your ideas off someone else.
Bad, bad idea.
Obviously if your idea is 'just another' thing that already exists in the marketplace(restaurant, standard food service, shop etc) then there's no problem, but anyone with anything even approaching unique in-mind would be crazy to share it here.

Beyond that, just be secretive. I would imagine that Business Link deals with all sorts of ideas every day, from the crazy and idiotic to the visionary. It's not their remit to steal good ideas, but to foster the entrepreneurship in people who come in.
Don't share it with random people(I think I've shared mine with a few family members and a few close friends only) and you should be fine.
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Khalid.

I'm blunt when critiquing websites and ideas on this forum. The public won't sugar-coat their opinion about your offering, so there's no point in me doing so.

A non disclosure agreement is not a bad idea . Its important to protect your idea but not so much that you spend too much of your time protecting it as oposed to implementing it.

A good idea is only half the story how well its implemented is what counts
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web design blackburn | web hosting blackburn | web design lancashire

Hi

I have had a similar problem, the simple answer is this. If you write something ie a poem, business plan and its original its already copyrite to you. Thats why you cannot use other peoples work as your own. The simple way to make sure no one copies your idea is by sending it to yourself signed and dated. All parties to sign a contract, or simply dont tell anyone.

You cannot legally copyright something, but if you can prove that you was the first one to write it then great.

Anymore questions please email me, If your wondering why I know this, my wife is a patent attorney.

Michael
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Michael Payne
mike@localexpertservices.co.uk
michael@mllsolutions.co.uk

Oh, just a thought.
Business Link advisors probably won't agree to sign a non-disclosure agreement.
Why? Because they hear so many ideas every day that chances are they'll hear yours. They won't risk getting sued just to help you.
Venture capitalists, angel investors etc are the same. They get pitched on so many ideas that chances are they've heard yours. They won't risk getting sued just to hear your pitch. They have plenty of offers without being asked to bend over backwards for yours.
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Khalid.

I'm blunt when critiquing websites and ideas on this forum. The public won't sugar-coat their opinion about your offering, so there's no point in me doing so.

Just put protecting ideas in the search box on the top of the page. There will be a lot of articles that come up.

An interesting one:
http://www.startups.co.uk/6678842910882179150/protecting-ideas-when-approaching-manufacturer.html
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Small Business Marketing