Stolen Ideas…
The first thing many people have told me about creating a new website is not to tell anyone what your idea is until it is no longer possible to keep it a secret. The following story will show exactly why this is a great notion.
A little over 6 months ago I had this great idea for a website. Streaming video was reaching all time high and the Internet was booming. My idea was simple: a streaming video site that would only have how-to videos. My theory was obvious, how much easier is it to watch someone do something than to read about it and try to figure it out. This was always the problem with wikihow.com and howstuffworks.com. It was my first major idea for a website, and unfortunately I told a lot of people. Most of the people were my friends, but I did submit the idea to be patented to many companies with no luck. Everyone loved my idea but I just had no way to accomplish it. It would have cost too much money to startup without a venture capitalist, which I submitted my idea to as well.
Then about 4 days ago my friend IM’s me in the morning with a website: videojug.com. I hate to link to them because I am still bitter:). This website is my idea exactly and just went live. Regardless if there is a chance they came up with the idea also, it is very frustrating to see my potential idea being implemented by another company.
What I have learned from this situation is to never tell anyone my ideas no matter what until I have some kind of protection. Even if they did not directly steal my idea, it still hurts to know they could have and are using my great idea.
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Maybe I’m wrong, but I think Videojug had been in the works for more than six months. I was hearing about the website as early as August.
I agree with you about the need for visuals. I’m a wikiHowian and many wikiHow articles (like articles on how to draw things) don’t seem to work without pictures.
I’m surprised that more people weren’t supportive of your idea. If vlogs, podcasts etc. are any indicator there’s a real need for how-to information on the net. I’m actually amazed that all these how-to vlogs etc., can co-exist and all do well but that seems to be what’s happening.
But it’s a real drag when someone else comes along first. If only someone could create a service to make sure that someone doesn’t implement the same idea before you do…
Agreed. I feel slightly better that they have been working on this project for a little while, but it still hurts. I tried to get my idea patented but I don’t think it is possible to patent an idea for a website unless it’s something very specific, which mine wasn’t. Thanks for commenting.
I’ve had similar experiences. Athough it sucks, I think it’s ok to tell others about your ideas as long as you fully trust them. Getting input from others can be really valuable sometimes, 2 heads are better than 1.
Yes feedback from other people is key, and just like you said you must fully trust the person. It sure is a grey area trying to decide, but my motto is better safe than sorry.
Thanks for the comment,
Matt
I love this great web site and great meterials on it
How can you protect yourself though? In many cases you don’t know the people who can best help you. I know that if you come up with a design that you wish to patent you can send yourself a certified letter with drawings, etc., don’t open it. This way if someone “steals” your idea you have dated materials, sent by certified mail, with outlines of the design which was stolen. Would this work for something which is not tangible -like a web site idea?
Farukh – Thanks for the compliment, glad to have you as a reader!
Steve – There is not really a way to 100% protect yourself against someone taking your idea because it’s not tangible in any way.
I heard once or twice about your idea regarding sending yourself a certified letter. In theory I think it would work, but someone can always find a way around something like this (especially with enough money to fight it). I will use that method next time I have an idea like that though.
Thanks for the comments,
Matt