website idea

[MunkeyBoy]

I have come up with an idea for a website that I think (I may be wrong) nobody has thought of yet. If I do decide to create it I stand to make alot of money so how do I know some big company isnt going to come along and steal my idea and copy it but on a much larger budget? Is there a way i can prevent this happening? I know patents are for invetions only, what about websites? Does copyright prect me from this?

[Pinotage]

If your idea is good and your website successful, its more likely that a big company will offer you lots of money for it, that is what has tended to happen.

[MunkeyBoy]

thanx Pinotage but are you sure they can't steal my idea for themselves? Why bother giving me money when it would cost less to re-design it for themselves. Im worried if I publish my site and it is a success the idea will catch on and things will go pear shaped as they say.

[wizard]

it very much depends on what the idea is, give us the general jist without giving away what it is and we could help you even more. Is it feasible what you want to do? Is it cost worthy? how much time will it take? All these things need to be taken into account when designing and running websites.

[lisaj]

Firstly, I sincerely doubt it's an original idea - the problem with so many millions of people out there is that they tend to have similar ideas. Obviously they do come along from time to time, but I reckon there's millions of non-original ideas for every good one. Secondly, you're effectively creating software, and only the source code can really be copyrighted. Your only real saving grace will be to do the job so well first time round that nobody else can do it better (eg. ebay, friendsreunited, lastminute, etc.) - however, do you also know that the site is technologically feasible? I'm happy to enter an NDA to give you further advice (since I couldn't work on it now even if I wanted to), but as I say, there's not really a whole bunch you can do to protect it except to go to market fast, and with a good enough product that the consumer will only come to you.