How do I protect my website idea? Is copyright possible?

Hello all,

I've had an idea for a new website that I have never seen done before; I have searched on Google and can't find anything like it, nor anything referencing any similar idea as I have.

The idea itself (which I obviously wont disclose in full!) is a novel way of creating an end product that in itself is nothing new. The way of "manufacturing" this product is through collaboration of lots of people from all over the world over the internet; which, I believe has never been done before.

Any ideas how I could protect my idea? Is it possible to copyright such an idea? Or is this un-copyrightable and I've basically just got to launch a website as "the original idea" and hope people come to mine rather than any competitors that get set up??

Regards,

Pangea.

(BTW: The idea has nothing to do with my exisiting website, though I do have a domain registered that I will be using. Though the domain name has nothing specific regarding the idea - it's just the name that I want to use for the site).

 

visit the USPTO Web site at http://www.uspto.gov.

 

Well I believe you need to file a IPR but then its not enough

Because filling IPR in one country won't help, you need to have filled in different continents

Only it USA you might end up 10,000USD for IPR that too its not guaranteed that it will be APPROVED

 

i think u can talk about copyrighting of the contents etc but i dont think so that u can get any copyrights for idea.its not possible to get copyrights in whole world .it will involve lot of money

 

You could patent it, though patent attorneys are pretty pricey.

 

The best thing to do it contact the government. You may think that the idea has never been thought of, but you'd be surprised! Another problem you may face is another patent which you believe to be completely irrelevant to your idea, could cover the idea you have thought of, therefore you would not be able to patent it!

If it is a really big project worth patenting then go for it, but if you cant guarantee anything then its a long and expensive process to go through to find that you cant get a patent!

But you should be able to copyright the idea very easily!

 

Why would you really want to do that? Competition is good for the soul, makes you work much harder to beat them out and overall would give you a better company.

My 2 cents.

 

Yes its possible.
Last time i used this to protect my website right copyrightservice.co.uk

 

I would suggest talking a look at www.legalzoom.com as I've used them in the past and they're good with it.

 

Thanks 4 all the suggestions guys;
I don't believe the idea would create that much money; it's more an entertainment product than anything. Maybe i should just try create alot of hype over it when it's first launch so people know my sites the original! Perhaps copyright just wouldn't be viable money wise.

 

I thought that usually people cant patent a website idea? Or?

 

Good Luck, it takes about a year

 

Only thing you can truly do without spending a bunch of money is to develop the site as fast as possible and hope nobody beats you to the punch!

 

its taking a long time