how to copyright/protect a product name/business idea

[bloodypure]

Hi,

I am at the ideas stage of a new business/product and I feel like i need to protect it in some way so that if I do tell people about it it doesn't get stolen from me!!

I know there are different types of protection out there e.g. trademarks, patents, copyright. I just dont know what is suitable, what is easy to get, what is difficult to get... what I can afford or even who to contact to obtain this protection.

any advice on the topic will be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Berny

 

[Faith28]

Hi

I've looked into this for my own games.

As far as I understand it (and you can check it for yourself) ideas themselves can not be registered officially.

Copyright - automatic to you if you are the original designer. Ironically getting it out there means then that you are the first out there in the public eye and so people will think of you first when they see your 'stuff'.

Trademark - we would register with IPO our trademark and then use the 'R'. Before we trademarked we used the 'TM' symbol this is fine too and most people don't realise you don't have to be registered to use the TM symbol only the R symbol. As such they think you have official registration with that too.


I would like to point out that ideas are free. It's the work you put in to make your idea work that isn't free.

So in my case I make card games. One of our games is about the periodic table. Lots of people have had an idea of creating a game about the Periodic table doesn't mean anything really. No one can say we copied each other because it was each done independently.

There are lots of games out there about the periodic table but the uniqueness for us is the mechanics and application of our work including the design and illustrations as well as the logo etc. that surround how create a game about the periodic table. THAT is the work applying the idea.

I always say ideas are free it's what you do with them that counts.

If the fear stops you speaking to people and getting your idea out there then use a non-disclosure agreement before you get into discussion with people.

 

[Trademarkroom]

Hi. The last post offered pretty good advice.

Check out the UK IPO website, a very good IP (intellectual property) resource.

We specialise in trademark protection. All good businesses have a strong brand and to keep it strong you should protect it with a registered trade mark. This will give you the sole right to use the name and prevent others from doing so without your consent.

Please feel free to contact me or 'pm' me if you would like to know more.

 

[David Warrilow]

Hi

I've looked into this for my own games.

As far as I understand it (and you can check it for yourself) ideas themselves can not be registered officially.

That's not quite true. Patents essentially protect ideas - you have to be able to describe one way of making the invention work but the scope of protection can be much broader than just that one embodiment and can effectively protect the idea.

Methods of playing games per se are not patentable in the UK or EU, but if they involved new apparatus they might be (along with the apparatus).

Methods of playing games are patentable per se are patentable in the US (provided they are new and inventive - the same criteria for grant of any patent). So, even new games using a standard deck of cards can be patentable in the US.

David