I have a feeling what you'll end up actually creating might be significantly different compared to his original idea. Paul Arden makes a good point about ideas floating by on a river of ether, free for anyone to pluck out. So, while he presented you with the idea, it'll probably take shape as something else with your execution. Plus, execution is 99% of the whole problem anyways.
Stealing a business idea?
11–20 of 21 posts
Re: Stealing a business idea?
#12I can't believe more people haven't stated this, but honestly stealing his idea is an UBER dick move. I can't believe you're even considering this, wow. There's plenty of ideas out there, you don't need to be lazy AND immoral to steal this guy's idea, especially since he trusted the two of you to discuss ideas in good faith. ESPECIALLY since you guys supposedly regularly meet up just to discuss ideas. I would seriously recommend you listen to your conscience and don't do it. It's really a dick move.
Re: Stealing a business idea?
#13Build up few webpages of his idea. Show them to him. If he likes them get him in your team. This will convince him to be flexible in his thinking. It is very likely that he may have hidden some facts from you about which he can open up when he'll be part of your team. A person who got the idea for the first time also knows how to execute it properly.
Re: Stealing a business idea?
#14Hi, this is my second comment to your post. If you're so eagerly looking for a good idea, just drop me an email on 'agarwal.k@sify.com' and I'll send you my idea. I think I have a good idea with immense potential. I'll discuss it with you completely with no hidden points. I am looking for a developer. It'll take just 10 minutes for you to go through it. No harm in hearing it. Bye, Kapil Agarwal.
Re: Stealing a business idea?
#15Pursuing the same idea isn't the worst thing you could do. Competition is competition, and - as somebody else already said - if the idea is really good, there are probably other teams working on it already. BUT... what I personally wouldn't do - just because it would be a dick move - would be to do it behind the guy's back. Tell him what you're thinking about doing, who knows, maybe there is some synergy or what you…
Thanks for your reply mindcrime. You're right, we're going be upfront about it and see his reaction. If he's professional in his response and is willing to compromise we might consider working with him.
Re: Stealing a business idea?
#16I can't believe more people haven't stated this, but honestly stealing his idea is an UBER dick move. I can't believe you're even considering this, wow. There's plenty of ideas out there, you don't need to be lazy AND immoral to steal this guy's idea, especially since he trusted the two of you to discuss ideas in good faith. ESPECIALLY since you guys supposedly regularly meet up just to discuss ideas. I would serious…
Thanks for your feedback rogerjin. I respect your point of view and agree that it's somewhat immoral, but given that I strongly believe that the person won't realize the project wouldn't it be dumb to reject a great venture purely on moral grounds? And as some people suggested ideas are out there and other people are probably working on a similar project as we speak. In the end if someone else succeeds with this idea wouldn't that person be stealing the idea as well?
Re: Stealing a business idea?
#17I can't believe more people haven't stated this, but honestly stealing his idea is an UBER dick move. I can't believe you're even considering this, wow. There's plenty of ideas out there, you don't need to be lazy AND immoral to steal this guy's idea, especially since he trusted the two of you to discuss ideas in good faith. ESPECIALLY since you guys supposedly regularly meet up just to discuss ideas. I would serious…
Thanks for your feedback rogerjin. I respect your point of view and agree that it's somewhat immoral, but given that I strongly believe that the person won't realize the project wouldn't it be dumb to reject a great venture purely on moral grounds? And as some people suggested ideas are out there and other people are probably working on a similar project as we speak. In the end if someone else succeeds with this idea…
"In the end if someone else succeeds with this idea wouldn't that person be stealing the idea as well?"
>> There's an unbelievably huge difference between someone (a complete stranger) realizing this idea by themselves and running with it, versus your friend disclosing his idea/features/strategy to you in good faith and you running with it. MrBurns, there are some things in life more important than money and success, such as not screwing over someone in this way. Shows a complete lack of character. At the risk of sounding condescending, didn't your parents teach you better?
Its not just somewhat immoral, its completely immoral. As my friend who send this thread to me said, "Its one thing to compete with an idea. It's another when someone divulge massive details about everything regarding the idea, and you just come in and try to fuck them over." And yes, while execution is more important than the idea, considering the information was divulged in good faith and you're now just taking the chance to screw him over when he's down, my friend likens your justification to "saying murder is OK because stupid people are making the world dumb." Think about it. It's not OK.
If you really believe this will be a great venture, you should help this guy rather then screw him. And if you really want in on the venture, you should have a serious talk to this person about joining together if you truly realize how bad what you were proposing was, and WITHOUT any ulterior motives. Yes, while he might be too blinded by his passion to make any changes, but you never know until you try.
Re: Stealing a business idea?
#18I would think of it this way. If the idea is that easy to steal (Or replicate) then (without knowing much about the idea) it sounds to me that it's pretty low barrier to entry idea so ask yourselves how big can it get. Really?
The other and more important thing is - ideas are dime a dozen but it's all about execution. My issue with stealing the idea is that you are not going to be able to execute it as it will never be your true passion. You will always have that doubt. And because of that, you will not have that bullet proof conviction - so essential to success of any startup -required to transform the idea into business.
The reason the guy whose idea you are trying to steal appears stubborn is because he has convection. Just know that execution requires absolute conviction - thousands of people during execution will say how terrible the idea actually is and it will require sheer conviction to transform it into a business model.
So - my suggestion is that the guy who had the idea should be the CEO and you guys should be the cofounders.
I am not big on stealing anything. If you are smart - you will have something original. Remember cream always rises to the top. So forget about stealing and start hacking something original!
Re: Stealing a business idea?
#19I would think of it this way. If the idea is that easy to steal (Or replicate) then (without knowing much about the idea) it sounds to me that it's pretty low barrier to entry idea so ask yourselves how big can it get. Really? The other and more important thing is - ideas are dime a dozen but it's all about execution. My issue with stealing the idea is that you are not going to be able to execute it as it will never…
Thanks rajdesai225 your insight gives a fresh perspective on this topic. I hadn't thought about the bullet-proof conviction you're referring to and I believe you have a good point!
Re: Stealing a business idea?
#20Earlier quoted context omitted.
Thanks for your feedback rogerjin. I respect your point of view and agree that it's somewhat immoral, but given that I strongly believe that the person won't realize the project wouldn't it be dumb to reject a great venture purely on moral grounds? And as some people suggested ideas are out there and other people are probably working on a similar project as we speak. In the end if someone else succeeds with this idea…
"In the end if someone else succeeds with this idea wouldn't that person be stealing the idea as well?" >> There's an unbelievably huge difference between someone (a complete stranger) realizing this idea by themselves and running with it, versus your friend disclosing his idea/features/strategy to you in good faith and you running with it. MrBurns, there are some things in life more important than money and success,…
I can see that you're getting pretty passionate about this thread rogerjin and I repect that! I actually started this post to get the most honest feedback I could get and I want to thank you for it. Having said that, here's a purely hypothetical question. Up to what point can you say that it's okay to steal and idea? Say we hypothetically give this guy three years to launch his pet project. Three years later we meet him again and it's still not launched. Can we say that if he didn't develop it in three years then it's up for grabs? That he got his chance and the next guy should seize his opportunity? The reason why I'm saying this is because contrary to you, I believe that the line between what is moral and what is immoral is not always as clear as you suggest it is.