There is a lot of money to be made from protecting an invention or an idea for a product. You can apply for a patent and then license your rights to the product or construct and sell it yourself. Here we explore the basics: what you need to know about how to copyright your idea.
Steps To Copyrighting Your Idea:
- Determine if your idea is patentable. If you are not sure, contact a company that specializes in patents and consult with them about whether your invention is unique enough to be patented. If it is not patentable, you may still be able to copyright your idea. However, there are no guarantees of this fact- so proceed with caution.
- Make sure the specifications for whatever it is you want to copyright meet requirements for its registration as original work or writing before applying for its copyright.
- It’s important to note that one cannot copyright a general idea — there has to be some tangible piece of work involved — i.e., a photo, drawing, written work, or recorded media being played/projected/communicated in front of people can all be copyrighted as original works. In order to prove you are the author of a work, you’ll need to register your original idea for copyright with the United States Copyright Office.
If you want to ensure your idea is safe, you can take a few precautions. The following things will help you be more at ease:
-Keep a written log or diary of your idea.
-Write out drawings if applicable.
-Record yourself describing the idea in detail (video and audio)
-Create any relevant supporting documentation like test results, research
You can also talk to several attorneys to be sure your idea is safe.
Ideas are considered free games if they are not patented or copyrighted. However, if you do decide to copyright your idea, keep in mind that you must make it known to the public through some type of media- this means starting production on the product; building a website describing its features; advertising for investors; making sales samples available for viewing, etc. You can then register these actions with the Copyright Office and provide proof of their online posting of your application along with specimens demonstrating how these items were used/made/taken out into public notice- i.e., photos, copies of flyers posted around town, printouts of the website describing new product features or images of listed posts on your product website, etc.
In conclusion, keep in mind the basics when it comes to copyright your idea. Make sure you can prove ownership by establishing dates, usage, and record keeping. If your idea meets requirements for a patent or artistic/written work registration, use that instead of just assuming it is copyrighted. It’s better safe than sorry!
