Comments on: How Do You Protect A Business Idea? http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/661/how-do-you-protect-a-business-idea Inspiration, ideas and opportunities for your business! Tue, 07 Oct 2008 03:17:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: John http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/661/how-do-you-protect-a-business-idea#comment-11159 John Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:06:24 +0000 http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/661/how-do-you-protect-a-business-idea#comment-11159 Absolutely Robert, most small businesses kid themselves wasting a fortune on IP protection when they simply could never afford to enforce that protection. Absolutely Robert, most small businesses kid themselves wasting a fortune on IP protection when they simply could never afford to enforce that protection.

]]> By: Robert Moore http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/661/how-do-you-protect-a-business-idea#comment-11146 Robert Moore Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:59:04 +0000 http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/661/how-do-you-protect-a-business-idea#comment-11146 One thing to remember is that it costs alot of time and money to defend intellectual property so dont bother going to the expense of patents etc unless you are prepared to defend it. One thing to remember is that it costs alot of time and money to defend intellectual property so dont bother going to the expense of patents etc unless you are prepared to defend it.

]]> By: John http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/661/how-do-you-protect-a-business-idea#comment-11041 John Wed, 27 Feb 2008 10:55:41 +0000 http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/661/how-do-you-protect-a-business-idea#comment-11041 Liz, Yes, small businesses would be much better off monitoring the "best in class" competitors and benchmarking themselves against them, then copying their best idea. How you go about keeping appraised of the marketplace depends on the business you are in. Certainly trade journals (or the online equivalents) should be monitored. A local business should follow the local business press. Google Alerts are very useful for some. Liz,

Yes, small businesses would be much better off monitoring the “best in class” competitors and benchmarking themselves against them, then copying their best idea.

How you go about keeping appraised of the marketplace depends on the business you are in. Certainly trade journals (or the online equivalents) should be monitored. A local business should follow the local business press. Google Alerts are very useful for some.

]]> By: Liz Fuller http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/661/how-do-you-protect-a-business-idea#comment-11031 Liz Fuller Wed, 27 Feb 2008 07:01:31 +0000 http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/661/how-do-you-protect-a-business-idea#comment-11031 So you're saying small business owners should turn the tables - focus more on scanning the horizon to see what others are doing than worrying about anyone stealing their own idea? Any thoughts on the best way to stay apprised of what's going on in the marketplace while you're also busy building your business? So you’re saying small business owners should turn the tables - focus more on scanning the horizon to see what others are doing than worrying about anyone stealing their own idea? Any thoughts on the best way to stay apprised of what’s going on in the marketplace while you’re also busy building your business?

]]> By: mahei http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/661/how-do-you-protect-a-business-idea#comment-11006 mahei Tue, 26 Feb 2008 22:20:07 +0000 http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/661/how-do-you-protect-a-business-idea#comment-11006 I wouldn't worry too much about people trying to imitate. It's all in the planning. Execute fast, learn fast from your mistakes, get into the marketplace quickly again, serve your customers fast, get their feedback as fast as you can and evolve again....fast! before your competition can. ...oh and innovate fast too ;-) I wouldn’t worry too much about people trying to imitate. It’s all in the planning. Execute fast, learn fast from your mistakes, get into the marketplace quickly again, serve your customers fast, get their feedback as fast as you can and evolve again….fast! before your competition can.

…oh and innovate fast too ;-)

]]> By: John http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/661/how-do-you-protect-a-business-idea#comment-10993 John Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:39:10 +0000 http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/661/how-do-you-protect-a-business-idea#comment-10993 Liz, Absolutely small business owners loose far too much sleep over the possibility that someone will steal there idea. They would be much better off focusing this effort on implementing their idea. I'm of the firm belief that it's better to be fast follower, let someone else make the mistakes, burn their research and development budget and prove the market, then learn from their mistakes. Liz,

Absolutely small business owners loose far too much sleep over the possibility that someone will steal there idea. They would be much better off focusing this effort on implementing their idea.

I’m of the firm belief that it’s better to be fast follower, let someone else make the mistakes, burn their research and development budget and prove the market, then learn from their mistakes.

]]> By: Liz Fuller http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/661/how-do-you-protect-a-business-idea#comment-10992 Liz Fuller Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:13:19 +0000 http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/661/how-do-you-protect-a-business-idea#comment-10992 Hi John Do you think that small business owners tend to over-worry about protecting their ideas? I think it's a lot harder to move a business from idea to execution than people realize - so it's not that likely that someone else will get in ahead of you even if they know your idea. There's also an advantage to not being the first to do something - strategically position yourself as a fast follower who can learn from another's mistakes. What do you think about being#1 - is it first mover advantage or the "bleeding edge"?? Liz Hi John

Do you think that small business owners tend to over-worry about protecting their ideas? I think it’s a lot harder to move a business from idea to execution than people realize - so it’s not that likely that someone else will get in ahead of you even if they know your idea.

There’s also an advantage to not being the first to do something - strategically position yourself as a fast follower who can learn from another’s mistakes.

What do you think about being#1 - is it first mover advantage or the “bleeding edge”??
Liz

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