Ask HN: Which legal doc to stop the pitchee taking my idea?

3 points by nthState 10y ago ↗ HN

Hi!

If I'm going to pitch a product/service to a company, which legal documents do I need to stop them from simply stealing the idea and making their own version?

I think NDA's cover that they can't talk about it. I've heard of things like no-compete documents, is that what I need?

Thanks!

4 comments

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PaulHoule 10y ago ↗

File a provisional patent application at the patent office.

If you register as a "micro entity" this costs just $65; although is good for a PPA to look a lot like a real patent application there is no particular requirement for what is in it -- so you definitely DO NOT need to get a lawyer involved at this phase.

Once you do this you can also claim your invention is "patent pending".

dmschulman 10y ago ↗

No one is going to steal your idea http://www.tonythings.com/not-worry-idea-theft/

nthState 10y ago ↗

What if I'm pitching to a large entity thats in the same space?

brudgers 10y ago ↗

Talk to an attorney familiar with the industry. Perhaps file a patent.

If that doesn't seem like a good investment right now, lawyering up when someone violates the terms of whatever "idea protection" document gets cooked up is not a better investment.

I've come to agree with the common wisdom that improving execution is better than protecting an idea. For a customer adopting an existing implementation is faster than building something in house. On the other hand, implementing an idea in house may be faster than relying on an external company.

I like this essay: https://sivers.org/multiply