New Idea, need protection

[Hatya]

Today i had what i think is a very god idea for a software program. So my concern is the best way to approach programmers and discuss the creation of the software without having my idea ripped off.

My initial thought is to discuss everything thru skype or email so that there is documentation of the idea/plan. Does anyone have on thoughts on this. I have no programming experience so i really have no idea whats involved or the time it would take to build this software.

Any advice would be great

[Hatya]

from what i have read online so far it seems i need to get intellectual property protection. Now I just have to figure out exactly how to do this, and if it is cost effective. I would like to get my idea to the point at which i can discuss it with programmers and not have to worry about someone stealing the idea.

[RikaKazak]

Originally Posted by Hatya

from what i have read online so far it seems i need to get intellectual property protection. Now I just have to figure out exactly how to do this, and if it is cost effective. I would like to get my idea to the point at which i can discuss it with programmers and not have to worry about someone stealing the idea.

Well...you cna go all the way from hiring a lawyer and having people sign NDAs. Too, just talking with people and taking a "chance" they won't steal it from you.

In my experience I've found people aren't nearly as likely to steal ideas as you might think, and generally they're just plain too lazy to rip anyone off.

[jupiter]

Yeah I wouldn't worry too much about them stealing your idea. Most software developers just want to program and get paid for it. They're not looking for an idea to run with and start a business.

[WhiskeyFish]

Like the others on here said, you can try to protect your idea but it's generally impractical and ineffective for a software product.

There's no harm in asking people to sign an NDA, but it's not going to offer you that much protection, and anyone you talk to who deals regularly with startups will probably not sign NDAs as a general rule.

You could file a provisional patent, but that's generally a waste of money unless you're dealing with a more traditional invention.

When it comes down to it:
- Success in a software startup is 5% idea, 95% execution...and that's being very generous to the idea.
- If you have a good idea, chances are close to 100% that someone else has or very soon will come up with something very similar. Even calculus was invented by two people simultaneously
- What matters is creating a good product _quickly_, grabbing a user base and growing it exponentially. Amazon wasn't the first marketplace, Ebay wasn't the first auction site, Google wasn't the first search engine. If you can become an 800 pound gorilla you won't need protection.

I would also suggest that it's too early to talk to developers. Generally, outsourced development works best if you assume that the developer can program but lacks all other higher brain functions. Map out every screen, every button, every piece of functionality and put it into a document or even a nonfunctional prototype. Then show it to developers and get quotes. You'll get it done faster and cheaper that way. The exception would be if the developer is an entrepreneur who you are treating as a business partner that will be developing the concept along side you.

[Hatya]

Thanks guys, lots of good information.

Whiskey, your suggestion to map out every screen is great stuff.

2 days later i still think the idea is a good one, now i'd like to bounce it off of a couple end users and see what they think about it. I have done some research and was very surprised this idea has not been created yet.

Maybe it has been thought and there are some snags I'm unaware of. I'll update if this gets off of the ground.

[PiercE]

1x1 sc2 any map

[Hatya]

It was such a good idea that someone has already created it and is marketing it. LOL FML

[Vitas23]

Originally Posted by Hatya

It was such a good idea that someone has already created it and is marketing it. LOL FML

Care to share the idea?

[RikaKazak]

Originally Posted by Vitas23

Care to share the idea?

+1