What are the best ways to copywrite 'ideas'?
I have read somewhere that you can't actually copywrite 'ideas' although you can do various things to make it known that you came up with the expression of those ideas.
I have come up with a series of original ideas, one of which relates to a new prison system design (basically a totally different approach to detaining convicted criminals) and I am about to write a book about it. What's can I do to insure my ideas are not copied by somebody else?
Answers:
I would say try asking the patent office first of all. Even if they cant do it they should be able to point you in the right direction.
Otherwise the citizens advice beurau can offer some free legal advice, although i couldn't be sure if they can help you with that.
Also possibly a solicitor. good luck with the book :-)
Write it down. In the UK you automatically own the copyright to anything written by you. See http://www.ipo.gov.uk/copy/c-claim/c-aut...
As for designs, it may be a bit different, have a look here to see if you need to do anything, though I think it only applies to things actually made by you http://www.ipo.gov.uk/design/d-applying/...
First of all write them down. If you are really paranoid about your ideas, seal them in an envelope and mail them to yourself. When they arrive, keep them sealed. They will be postmarked. If you're really, really paranoid lodge the envelope with a bank or solicitor - but expect to get charged for that.
Copyright and protection exists at the point of authorship, so there are no legal procedures that need to be followed. Proving the timing is more difficult though.
Check out this page. Should give you all the information, including that regarding fees, that you will need. Look particular for the section regarding the registration of designs.
http://www.ipo.gov.uk/
Cheers
You can't copyright ideas -- copyrights only cover "expression."
If you have a particular design for a prison, you can make a technical drawing or an architectual blueprint, or even just a sketch of the design, and that's copyrightable (and usually, if you register as an architectural drawing, people are prohibited from using your drawings to build buildings).
If you have written words down on paper, they're copyrighted as soon as they are "fixed in a tangible medium of expression" (even if that's on computer). But that only copyrights the WORDS, not the ideas behind them.
What you really have to do is file a patent. There are all sorts of crazy types of patents--it's not all about widgets. Two special kinds are called "method" patents and "business method" patents. They're essentially a "method" for doing things. If you get the patent, you can prohibit anyone from practicing that method for a few decades.
What can you do to ensure that your ideas aren't copied? DON'T SHARE THEM! And see a patent attorney about a method patent.
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