creating a site idea and keeping it?

[gowans007]

Guys Im looking for your advice.

I have currently came up with an idea for a site that is unique and this site will be useable by a lot of people.

Can you help me with these issues:

People can register accounts (they are logging a small nu8mbe of details willme, name, password, e-mail) are there any steps I need to take to inform them I cam holding information on them or a terms of agreement?

I don't want someone to steal my idea, how can I prevent this?

Can anyone with a business head help me with this? as down the line if its successful I will want to make money of this (no idea how as wont ever charge users)

Thanks
Gowans007

[Ubik]

Once it's on the internets, it's out there forever.

I had an idea that would have been match.com, but I had it in 1996 when I was working at an ISP. but I didn't DO anything, and now I am not rich and famous like that weird old guy on tv.

[gowans007]

so what do you do if your working on an idea that isn't out there yet? once its up is it your and no one can copy?
or if i want to do a development blog can noone copy as i have posted the original idea?

[buntine]

At this point in time, anyone can steal your idea. Most countries (not sure about USA) have implicit and automatic copyright protention for all original works. So, if you have an idea, you gain copyright over the original idea in its respective context (but often not the actual work itself). And because context is involved, a slightly edited version of your work is deemed seperate. Thus, someone may take your source code, edit it slightly, and Bob's ya' sister (or theirs, rather).

Copyright protection, however, is very limited and counts for practically nothing in a court of law.

The best method of protection is secrecy. If you want to keep a secret, simply don't tell anyone. Other than that; you can file a patent, which is a very expensive and long process that is only worth your while if your market research practically guarentees substantial profit.

Keep in mind I am not a lawyer or an expert on the topic of intellectual property.

Regards.

[Waylander]

I think your best bet in a situation like this is to just go for guns on it, keep it a secret untill its finished, generate some hype when its done and launch it with as much hoo haa as you can.

Copyright has always worked on the concept that even though you think of something in a certain amount of time someone else will/could have thought of it too. So at this moment you have the idea and its yours, but if you dont act on it eventually others will and if you do act on it then others will anyway...

It happens with everything.. profile sites, services almost anything, they dont need to steal your code that can just sit down and write thier own version.... Usually the biggest sites on the net are just the ones who took advantage of the idea.. whether they thought of it or not.

You have a good head start at the moment, give it your best and try to sweep the market before anyone else has a chance to either think of the idea themselves or undercut you by writing thier own version.

Waylander.