[BizZNasDreamer]

Hello everyone...I believe I have a great idea for an business! ...It's something that has never been done before and will help alot of people, but I haven't the slightest idea of how to get started...I am really reluctant to tell anybody for fear they may take my idea and run with it. How can I protect my idea while trying to get loans, grants, advice, etc from others ...And just so u know I can't afford a patent so something relatively cheap . Is there any way to make sure they keep my idea confidential?!? .....if anybody can help i'd greatly appreciate it. Thank you!!!

[Terra Andersen]

If you are looking to approach people for start-up capital, make sure to have them sign a non-disclosure agreement. In it, make sure to add a "non-compete" clause. Make sure they sign and, and agree not to compete or use your idea.

Other than that, get all proper copyrights and patents before you approach investors and potential partners (if possible)

Getting your idea stolen is not much fun... getting a lawyer is always helpful and recommended to keep your ideas safe. Protect your ideas by beign VERY careful about who you tell.. even friends! Business is fierce, and generally people are pretty sneaky about stealing other's ideas.

Good luck with your idea! I'm sure it's great!

[silversurfer]

there is no way to keep an idea to yourself, ideas are a dime a dozen. I had an idea for a business, but someone else in another part of the country beat me to market. We didn't know each other, we both had the same idea. I see no reason to try to keep an idea to yourself. I have been told many times that no venture capitalist with any sense will sign an NDA. Either you have a company ready to go or you don't. There is no half-stepping and there is no reason to try to protect an idea. I have at least 4-5 good ideas for businesses every day and when I look around I always find people mishandling those business ideas.

Friendster was the original social networking site. Is it somehow better than MySpace or Facebook? there's your story. Ideas = worthless, businesses = money.

[usakos]

OK, I understand that you have a business idea, but don't have money to pay fees for the patent application, etc.

Yes, getting your business idea stolen sucks; there's a court case going on now about when Mark (Facebook founder) was hired to do programming work for someone else and in the end, he ended up creating TheFacebook based on that business idea.

So, if you have no money but wish to at least have some form of evidence for future reference, you can do it the old way.

Write down your idea, make sure you date it, i mean you must have a time line of your business idea, when you first came up with it and to whom have you told about it, like your family members and or friends.

Write down the description of your idea in detail, date it, sign it, and put it in an envelop and seal it, and then address the envelop to yourself from yourself and go to the Post Office, mail it via a certified mail, request for a delivery confirmation receipt, and go home. When that envelop is delivered to you, sign for it, and keep the delivery confirmation receipt, make sure you don't open the envelop.

Take both the delivery confirmation receipts and the unopened envelop, and lock them up.

That's the old way of protecting your idea until you have the means to apply for a patent, etc. Now, you have just protected your business or product idea manually. You can then go and share your idea to anyone, but just make sure you have proof of whom you have shared your idea with. If for any reason, that the people whom you have shared your idea stole it, any court of law any where may recognize your certified mail/envelop as proof of your ownership of the business/invention idea.

PM me if you have questions. Good luck.

[nmx]

Tell me your idea, then I will tell you how to protect it..

But seriously, follow the others advice, especially writing it all down, every aspect and dating.

Good luck, be safe!

-nMx

[zoobie]

Originally Posted by Terra Andersen

get all proper copyrights and patents before you approach investors and potential partners (if possible)

Yes, This is the thing to do.

[silversurfer]

Originally Posted by usakos

OK, I understand that you have a business idea, but don't have money to pay fees for the patent application, etc.

Yes, getting your business idea stolen sucks; there's a court case going on now about when Mark (Facebook founder) was hired to do programming work for someone else and in the end, he ended up creating TheFacebook based on that business idea....

but you know that part of that case is that both parties acknowledge that Friendster was there first and they all had Friendster accounts while they were working on UConnect. So I mean, one party says the other stole their idea while both were in the process of stealing Friendster. This is true, btw.

[BizZNasDreamer]

Thanks Everybody I Really Appreciate Your Help!!! :d

[hockey97]

That dosen't work, that send it to your self idea it's called the poor man's copy right.

is dosen't work, I have asked lawyers around my area and said that it dosen't work, but people still do it , the reason is that you send it to your self which it's a federal doc, and people assume that you can use it in court, as evidence, The only evidence you would have is getting a mail from yourself, like you said don't open it, and so how will the mail be proof that you own some idea. I mean I could put a hotdog in an envolop and send it to myself and say I own myspace becuse I send mail to myself before myspace existed. for paten's and other stuff, you need to show your idea and give them a file with the idea and then you get ownership.
the mail thing just show's you got mail, that's really it, and the federal court no longer accepts that as evidence.

but if you must then do it, but you will have a heck of a time proving that you own it, it still wil cost you alot becuse of the lawyer you need to hire to take the person to court and trust me it will take a long time to prove that you own that idea becuse of that mailed doc you sent to yourselft, by the time you proved it and you are in favor, that would cost you more than pantent.

so I won't suggest doing that.
you have to look at long term, what could happen.

I would suggest to get the patent, just save up some money until you can pay it, becuse in the long run it's worth it.

One word of advice, the longer you wait the higher the chances of someone coming up with your same idea.

So I suggest to try and jump on it as quick as possible.

but don't leak any info about your idea to your friends or anyone.

The only way to have a legal back-up is a patent, once you get one,
you then could tell anyone about your idea and if their stupid enough they won't know you patent it and so if they steal your idea then take him to court.

lol

but the only way I see it is to have a patent, that's the only legal way of stopping people from taking your idea, however that's in america.
if your idea is any good, I bet people oversea's will steal it.

Wish you luck with your idea.

[jasaunders]

I have spoken to a friend who is a corporate patent lawyer and she has specifically said that you should do what usakos wrote, with the exception of the mailing thing. Instead get your documents notarized or at the very least, have a witness sign the documents as well.

[oracle]

I agree with the great advice of USAKOS , but have an additional suggestion to help you get started. One of your problems is capital, so who do you go to that you can trust? How about the bank where you have an account, or the bank that your family uses. If it is not your bank, get a letter from someone who uses that bank, introducing you and stating your character.

When you go, take along a copy of your proposal, and a pre-written agreement for the bank to sign, stipulating they have read your agreement and will not disclose to anyone, and the date you came in. Most banks have a notary, so you can have both documents made totally legall.

Then, based on your proposal and the safety document, apply for a loan to start up your business, especiall with sufficient capital to get a patent attorney and apply for the patent to totally protect your idea from others.