How can I legally protect my business idea?

Apply for a Patent Applying for a patent is a way of protecting a business idea. Though, you can’t patent an idea. But, you can patent a method of doing business if it meets specific criteria. You can apply for one of three types of patents: utility patents, plant patents, or design patents.

What laws protect ideas?

Copyright, a form of intellectual property law, protects original works of authorship including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, such as poetry, novels, movies, songs, computer software, and architecture.

Can someone steal your business idea?

Many entrepreneurs are surprised to learn that stealing someone else’s business idea is often perfectly legal. In most cases, unless the idea is protected by a trademark, patent or copyright, other businesses can take the idea and run with it.

How do you present an idea to a company without them stealing it?

You can sell an idea to a company without a patent. You need a way to stop them from stealing the idea from you. One way to do that without a patent is with a nondisclosure agreement, aka NDA. The NDA would limit the company’s ability to use your idea without paying you for it.

How do you pitch an idea to a company without them stealing it?

How can I protect my idea without a patent?

If you determine that the invention is probably not patentable, the most effective way to protect yourself is to have prospective licensees sign a nondisclosure agreement before you reveal your invention. This document is sometimes called an “NDA” or a “confidentiality agreement,” but the terms are similar.

How do I sell my idea to a big company?

Three Steps to Selling Your Idea

Know your market. This means gathering as much feedback as possible on your own invention idea.
Do some legal legwork. Go as far as you can to determine if your invention is patentable or if it can be produced without infringement on other filed patents.
Look into production.