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Advice needed: "friend" stole my idea...what to do?

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Re: Advice needed: "friend" stole my idea...what to do?

#21
Launch immediately. It's your idea so you have a better understanding and the ability to innovate much faster than she ever could.

Who cares if she was 'first' to do it...just make one that is better.

Someone mentioned partnering up with her - don't do it. "Fool me once, shame on you, Fool me twice, shame on me"

What a shame, a friend messing up another friend. This industry is definitely more cutt-throat than I thought.

Re: Advice needed: "friend" stole my idea...what to do?

#22
Under US law, it is first to invent, not first to file. Read David Pressman's book on Patent It Yourself.

The fact that you emailed her the presentation, IF any ideas are patentable, is proof enough.

This also proves those wrong who say that "Ideas are worthless".

Re: Advice needed: "friend" stole my idea...what to do?

#23
post #17
post #2

If your idea was so simple that a friend could steal AND execute as YOU envisioned, your friend isn't he problem--your idea is.

Lots of people say that, but I don't think it's true. Just because an idea is simple doesn't mean it's a bad or unprofitable idea. MySpace was a really simple idea, most of which had been done before, just not all on the same site. The reason they were successful wasn't because of the strength of the idea, it was because they got their site out there when the only real competition was Friendster, and since their site…

Good comment. I'm kind of tired of this "ideas are worthless" "meme" myself. They may not have much value compared to well executed products, but the reason there is no market is because they aren't excludable goods:

http://journal.dedasys.com/articles/2007/04/26/ideas-are-worthless

Re: Advice needed: "friend" stole my idea...what to do?

#24
post #17
post #2

If your idea was so simple that a friend could steal AND execute as YOU envisioned, your friend isn't he problem--your idea is.

Lots of people say that, but I don't think it's true. Just because an idea is simple doesn't mean it's a bad or unprofitable idea. MySpace was a really simple idea, most of which had been done before, just not all on the same site. The reason they were successful wasn't because of the strength of the idea, it was because they got their site out there when the only real competition was Friendster, and since their site…

MySpace succeeded because of great execution. Simple ideas once executed well become great ideas.OP should forget this and continue concentrating on releasing a great product.

Re: Advice needed: "friend" stole my idea...what to do?

#25

Leverage the 53,651 meme to your advantage: contact all the Web 2.0 startup sites (Techcrunch, GigaOm, Webware, etc.) and tell them that her service is a rip-off of your idea.

That might give her more attention than she'll probably ever get.

Re: Advice needed: "friend" stole my idea...what to do?

#26
post #25

Leverage the 53,651 meme to your advantage: contact all the Web 2.0 startup sites (Techcrunch, GigaOm, Webware, etc.) and tell them that her service is a rip-off of your idea.

That might give her more attention than she'll probably ever get.

Maybe, but it won't be the kind she'd want.

Also, there's a possibility those site editors simply avoid mentioning her site at all, which would be just as good for the O.P.

Re: Advice needed: "friend" stole my idea...what to do?

#27
Are you pissed because you know that this woman has the contacts and industry experience to execute on the idea better then you?

A presentation and an hour talk surely hasn't given her much of an advantage. Go off and build your idea into a successful company. The day after it hits Techcrunch you'll have 50 competitors anyway.

Re: Advice needed: "friend" stole my idea...what to do?

#28

Leverage the 53,651 meme to your advantage: contact all the Web 2.0 startup sites (Techcrunch, GigaOm, Webware, etc.) and tell them that her service is a rip-off of your idea.

If the original poster has his service out when he does this, it could end up being both very bad PR for her and very good PR for him.

In fact, her ripping off his idea could end up being better publicity than he would've gotten anywhere else.

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