Member Avatar for Cudmore

Hi.
I'm not sure where this belongs, but it'll be fine here.

I came up with an idea for a website/service..
It's a really good idea.
I've searched, and searched..
I've found nothing like my idea in existence.
I think it has a lot of potential at becoming a popular service..

Problem is, I'm a high school student.
I have a server, but it's an old server under a co.nr domain, etc etc,,
Next semester in Computer Programming, I'm gonna start work on my idea.
I won't be able to host it just yet, because I haven't the needed resources (a strong server, loads of bandwidth, a domain name, time time time).

My question, is there any way to protect my idea, like, to have it patented? I want to pursue this as soon as I get the time.. Soon, that is.
I'm sure someone else has thought of my idea, as no human thoughts are original, but it isn't to be found on the Internet..

Thanks for suggestions. I'm just not sure how to approach the concept of protecting an idea. Think of this as a general question without specifics :cool:

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by jwenting

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— the two replies so far touch the big tradeoffs: on patents and scope, and on putting money where your trust is. Below are practical, low-cost steps and realistic options to move the idea forward now, plus where true legal protection might matter.

Start now with dated documentation. Save a clear one-page description, wireframes, and a development plan in a versioned, private place (private Git repo, cloud storage with history, or email chains). These records establish a creation timeline and are often far more useful than an early patent when it comes to convincing collaborators or investors.

Understand what each form of protection actually does:

  • Copyright: automatically protects source code and written material on creation; registration may be required for litigation in some countries (see the U.S. Copyright Office at https://www.copyright.gov/).
  • Trademarks: protect brand names/logos once used in commerce and via registration in key markets.
  • Trade secret: protects information kept confidential (access controls and contracts matter).
  • Patents: give exclusive rights for technical inventions but are territorial, often costly, and harder to obtain for abstract software concepts. For basics on patents see the USPTO patents pages at https://www.uspto.gov/patents and consult your local IP office (for UK readers: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/intellectual-property-office).

If a patent seems necessary, consider a provisional application (in the U.S.) to lock a filing date while you build — but only after verifying the idea has a technical, non-obvious innovation worth patenting and budgeting for attorney help.

Practical next moves that cost little:

  • Build a minimal prototype to prove the idea and learn market fit.
  • Use student programs (for example, the GitHub Student Developer Pack) and campus resources to get hosting, domains, and mentorship.
  • Be cautious asking investors to sign NDAs; many decline, so rely on traction and documentation instead.
  • If you plan to disclose the idea to partners or contractors, use simple written agreements that limit use and require confidentiality.

Short checklist: document + timestamp, build MVP, use student/mentor resources, consider provisional filing only if the invention is technical and defensible, consult an IP attorney or free legal clinic before spending on patents.

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Member Avatar for MattEvans

My question, is there any way to protect my idea, like, to have it patented?

Yes and no.

Firstly, it depends on your local jurisdiction; in America, patents can cover very general ideas, in the UK they can only cover certain things; with exceptions including computer software and mathematic methods.

Secondly, it depends on proofing. You need to be able to prove that you either have implemented, or have throughoughly planned how to implement the idea. You also need to be able to comprehensively detail the parts of your idea that are unique and your own, and therefore patentable. It's more common for companies to patent tiny details of a product or service or system rather than the entire thing, which leads on to...

Thirdly, you need to know exactly what a patent protects you against. In actuality, unless you're already very rich or legally well connected, it's very little. A useful patent covers an extremely specific idea rather than a generalization, otherwise it's easy for a competing company to change a sufficient part of the details of a general 'idea' and get away with it being a different one. That makes patents about as useful as copyright, which is inherent to any implementation.

Still, that doesn't stop companies successfully patenting the stupidest things and then trying to enforce the patent...
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/01/23/sbc_enforcing_allencompassing_web_patent/

You should know, that if you attempt to sue against a company that 'steals your ideas', it might end up costing you alot, especially if you lose the case.

As you said:

no human thoughts are original

So, it can't really be right to try and protect them.

Add to ideas not being original, the fact that most systems are implemented on top of someone elses system(s).

In my opinion, patent's are possibly the worst idea ever.

Member Avatar for jwenting

If you have trust in your idea making you tons of money, you should have enough trust in it to take out the loans to get the hosting and equipment you need.
If you don't have that amount of trust, no investor will have enough trust in you to give you the money you need to develop it further.

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