Answer: protecting ideas
How to protect an idea without a patentCopyright covers expression, not ideas, so combine confidentiality, contracts and dated records
TimeBinder adds a layer of protection against AI and human fraud and disputes.
The file stays on your device. Your browser makes a digital fingerprint of the file. TimeBinder records the fingerprint and the time, not the file.
Short answer
An idea itself is generally not protected by copyright, which covers how it is expressed. Without a patent you can keep it confidential, use non-disclosure agreements, rely on trade secret rules, and keep dated records of your work. None of these stops someone independently having the same idea. Ask a patent attorney.
What is and is not protected
Copyright protects original expression, such as text, drawings, code and recordings, not the underlying idea, method or system (US Copyright Office). A patent can protect an invention if it meets the legal tests, but public disclosure before filing can harm patent rights in many countries.
Without a patent, people often rely on keeping the idea confidential, on NDAs with anyone they share it with, and on trade secret protection, which generally needs reasonable steps to keep information secret (WIPO). The rules differ by country.
Dated records of your work
Notes, sketches and drafts can help show what you had and when. A TimeBind records a SHA-256 fingerprint of the exact file and a time, anchored to Bitcoin. The fingerprint is made in your browser and the file is not uploaded. See how to prove an invention date and what is prior art.
A TimeBind shows a file existed by a recorded time and has not changed since. It does not grant rights, does not replace a patent and is not legal advice.
First Pooled TimeBind free, no card, then from US$5. An ASAP TimeBind is US$15.
Frequently asked questions
Can you copyright an idea?
Generally no. Copyright covers the way an idea is expressed, not the idea.
Is an NDA enough?
It helps if the other person signs and keeps to it, but it only binds the people who sign. Ask a lawyer to check it.
Does a timestamp protect my idea?
No. It records that a file existed by a time. It does not create legal rights.
Should I publish before filing a patent?
Often not. Public disclosure can affect patent rights in many countries. Ask a patent attorney before sharing.
Sources
- US Copyright Office, What does copyright protect?.
- WIPO, Trade secrets.
Related guides and tools
- How to prove an invention dateDated records
- What is prior art?What counts as earlier information
- How to prove I wrote something firstDated records for writing
- AI-assisted invention record checklistKeep records of what you did
- What is a poor man’s copyright?What it does and does not do
- All answersShort answers to common file-proof questions
Record a fingerprint of the file you rely on
Add a layer of protection against AI and human fraud and disputes: a dated, checkable record of the exact file you hold.
- Open the app and sign in with email or Google.
- Add your files. They stay on your computer.
- Seal them and download your Proof of Time certificates.
First Pooled TimeBind free, no card, then from US$5. See pricing.