How can I copyright an idea?

[Malaleche]

I have had a an idea which I would try to sell to VISA, how can I protect it before I propose it to them?

Hard, very very hard.

Isn't it also very very expensive?
Especially if global. Or am I mixing that up with patents.

get some legal advice, but I think a non disclosure agreement would be the way to proceed. hth

I think that copyright is for actual things like works of art, logos etc. I don't think you can copyright an idea or concept as such.

The whole issue of protecting intellectual property is complex. Only certain types of property can be formally protected. My suggestion would be that you take advice on the issue because it is highly specialised. A solicitor would probably be okay.

not copyrighting it, but to prove it was your idea put a copy in an envelope & send it to yourself through the post - don't open it when it arrives & then you have proof of when you thought of it.

this site hleps you decide whether you want copyright, patent etc protection

phatcat -how does a non-disclosure agreement work?

a non discloseure agreement is something that essentially stops anyone from telling anyone else about an idea/ project. I sign them all the time. dunno how they hold up in court though - I always assumed that they didn't really.

thanks all and betsy - had a look at the site but it doesnt fall into any of the categories. It's an idea for a service that VISA or other credit cards could provide

malaleche - afaik it's just a contract between the two parties, to agree that the info or knowledge that is shared will not be passed on or used commercially by the recipient of the info; my dh both issues them and has to consent to them in his line of work, but so far they have never had to be put to the legal test; there are a few pro-formas online if you have a google

hi senora, still in Spain?
Are non-disclosure agreements valid worldwide or only in the country they were drawn up in?

Hello, well I've done it so maybe I can help. Right you can't copyright an idea per se. You can copyright a method of doing something which is novel (ie new), or a product which is novel or significantly different to something else. In terms of financial services, if it's to do with crypto - CAT me and I'll tell you a bit more, if it's a commercial concept you can't copyright the idea but you can trademark it if you can create it as a product I think (trademarks aren't my thing though).

Your local business link can give you free and confidential advice on development and protection of intellectual property.

Contact a Patent Agent

thanks chocolate - no idea what crypto is. If I CAT you will you promise not to steal my idea? It's probably quite rubbish actually or already exists, but you never know...

good question. our clients seem to think they hold up worldwide.

but anyway maybe it would be better to approach a spanish/uk card issuing bank first? then you won't have to worry about that (because you could sue them in the uk if you had to). maybe you'd be more likley to get an interview with them too.

am still in spain btw - van comes friday, flights monday. I am excited, stressed and sad at the same time.

Malaleche - no worries, I have no interest in getting back into that sort of work. Oh and cryptography is what I meant.

I am going to see an advisor from Business Link tomorrow, to see what I need to do to protect my idea, and how to take it further. Mine is a product, although not a new invention. They sent me a non-disclosure agreement in the post, which the advisor will sign before I have the meeting with him.

All it took was one phone call to Business Link.

Am very excited. Will let you know how it goes, if you like?

Daphne - is Busines link a place you can get free advice from like the CAB? Am ging to be in UK over the summer so could speak to someone there about it. Let us know how it goes for you.
Senora - good luck with the move!