How do you protect your ideas from being stolen?

[TheWorks]

I'm looking to hire another graphic designer for print work. And i'm being cautious about it because I dont want her to take my ideas.

I would get this idea patented but i dont think i can do so. Because its something anybody can do. Like for instance i'll throw one out there . . . . a Dental Spa. Tons of businesses are out there like that, you cant patent that. But at the same time, you dont want to broadcast it either. Especially at the building stages (dont want to risking competition forming).

Now my thing is the graphic designer may not take my ideas but what if they refer family and friends the ideas?

What i gathered from googling is that i should draw up a non disclosure agreement. But I dont know how that would protect against the designer introducing it to third party members, cuz I would never know if they got my ideas or not.

[JKansas]

Well you're bordering on paranoia but I get it. You have to hire someone you trust and CYA. If you're that concerned then you need to be further along before you trust someone enough to hire them. That way they cannot catch up and do it first. Reach a point where you are comfortable in the process, and then hire with the non disclosure and all of that. If it can't be protected then as soon as you begin to advertise others will copy you if it's succsesful. It's just how it is.

I had a professor who told me to mail multiple copies of whatever I wanted to protect across state lines and then retrieve them without opening. Something to do with the postage marks and interstate commerce. They were only to be opened by a judge in a cse like this. It was a quick way to prove ownership before you trade secret/mark/copyright.

A couple ideas, sorry I Can't be more help.

[TheWorks]

Do I give a non-disclose agreement before or after the presentation?

[StephenMLevinson]

You're definitely hitting Paranoia. Artists don't even think with business minds, so it's likely they won't. But you need to work with people and have trust. Signing an NDA for an Artist before they work is pretty standard in the design field. Also NDA's don't hold up in court. If you REALLY think your idea is huge, contact an IP lawyer and spend several grand trying to protect. Focus less on people stealing your idea and more energy bringing it to fruition. Always remember, ideas are useless.

[jennyonbay]

I think you are too scared and i feel you dont have to worry too much. We too used a web designer for our site and it worked out well for us.

A complete small business outsourcing virtual assistant company. Specialized services for Amazon/Ebay store owners. Affordable, timely and effective services.

[goldsecret.org]

Yeah, designers don`t care about your ideas. If they did then they could have stolen a million good ideas by now and quit whoring themselves out to people like us. But if it`s a big concern then the solution is to either have outsourcers you have built a relationship with and trust, or bar that you could ask other people you respect to refer someone they trust.