Legal Question in Business Law in New York

Please please tell me I didn't lose my billion dollar idea

I'm a business owner who yesterday afternoon the GREATEST idea of my life came to me. Basically it'll replace an existing company that makes billions and will steal ALL of their clients. But here is when the drama comes in.

I have revealed the business idea to 2 companies. Both of them would have been needed to do the idea so I had to give them the info.

However I realized I can do it on a bigger scale and need a bigger company for it and have found one(didn't give them the info). Also I've learned that I'll have the revenue to pay for the services and don't need to share revenue.

I don't think those companies have the capabilities or money to do this on the level I now know it can happen on but they'd be able to do it in NY and this could result in copy cats all over the country, end result I lose my niche.

Here is the question...

In my companies website the terms of service states ALL contact with us is confidential and WE reserve the right to decide what to share and what not to sure with third parties.

So if my idea all of a sudden showed up and I traced it back to them would I have a case or does it have to be stated in the email as well?


Asked on 7/09/05, 5:33 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Walter LeVine Walter D. LeVine, Esq.

Re: Please please tell me I didn't lose my billion dollar idea

I suggest contacting an intellectual property attorney or a patent/trademark attorney before you do anything. If this is a unique concept, you might be able to get state and federal protections, so if your idea is pirated, you would be able to sue the person/entity who is infringing your idea.

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Answered on 7/09/05, 11:53 am


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