Recently...errr well not really, it was a while ago since i've been thinking about the procedure to protecting one's original idea/concept about something... I said IDEA or CONCEPT.
The first thing that came into my mind was of a Copyright Protection. However, copyright doesn't protect your ideas/concepts. I've gone through some of the US and Indian copyright protection handbook and that led me to the conclusion that copyright, in any case, doesn't protect your ideas from being 'copied'.
The question arises now... Can an idea be protected??
Yes. An idea can be protected in the form of an invention. Patenting the creation and the technical drawings (related to the idea) is one option but someone in the university, a student or any individual may not be ready to spend the handful amount of dollars required to get the idea patented. Copyright, on the other hand is cheap and protects your idea in the form of an innovation or original creation. If you've created something, putting a © symbol protects your creation but however, you need to register it (which though requires a small fee) if in case legal issues are to be fought. Putting a © symbol conveys that the creation is copyright property and just putting the symbol ensures it rights. For federal acts or legal proceedings, valid registration with the Copyright Protection Department in your country is essential.
Other ways to protect your ideas include submission of your ideas to organisations. Many of which are available online and some charges small amount of fees while others doesn't. Another way is to mail yourself all the required documents provided the envelop in still sealed. This is valid only when there is a date stamped on the envelop by the post office and which represents the date on which your idea becomes 'yours'. However, this method is not much recommended.
Bottomline is, turn your idea into an innovation first...
