How can you protect your mobile app idea?
If you have an exciting idea for a new mobile app, but are new to the world of mobile app development, you may make the common mistake of thinking less about what should concern you the most: protecting your idea. The moment you come up with the brilliant idea for your mobile app, it’s time to start protecting it. Here are some tips, drawn from our years of experience working with startups, that you should consider:
1. Always use a Confidentiality Agreement (NDA)
A confidentiality agreement (NDA) is a standard document that you can use to protect your application idea. Before discussing your application idea with someone, even in vague terms, you should get a signed NDA from them. This document will hold the signers liable for damages if they show their idea to someone. You can easily obtain NDAs from your attorney or from online legal services. Make sure that the people who sign them use their formal name and that the form includes exact contact information. NDA is a very important document that you want to use to secure your application idea.
2. Selectively disclose information
You don’t want to give a full description of your application idea, especially in the early stages of development. For example, if you want to discuss your idea with an app developer to get an estimate, you don’t have to show your idea in its entirety. You can hide some of your key features and get estimates of the standard features. Once you develop some trust in the relationship, you can show more information.
3. Learn more about the recipient
Before showing your information to someone, you want to research them and find out their history, authenticity, and credentials. If you’re pitching your idea to an app development company, make sure it’s one that is well established, has been in the market for a long time, and has worked for other startups. Reputable mobile app development companies care about keeping your idea safe. However, if you are speaking to a freelancer who does not have an established background, you should take extra precautions. If you are speaking to a professional investor, venture capitalist, or angel investor, who has a history of investing in applications, you may consider them more trustworthy than someone who did not have a prior public image and investment record. However, get a signed confidentiality agreement before any discussion of your app idea.
4. Publish your MVP application sooner rather than later
You should publish your Minimum Viable Product (MVP) application as soon as possible. Once you publish your application, and it is publicly available, then your idea will be safe under copyright law, as the first to publish it. Published apps are safe in the same way under copyright law as published books. The sooner you publish your app, the better your protection. In addition, you will have the advantage of being the first to move in the market.
5. Create your design and trademark it
Before developing your mobile application, which can be time consuming, you can first create your application layout. Design work typically takes no more than 5-6 weeks. Once this is done, you can include your design, logo, and requirements in a trademark application. This will give you some protection. It’s not as strong as a patent, but you can still use it in court if someone tries to copy your great idea.
6. Apply for a provisional patent if necessary
Applying for a patent is not easy. It is a process that requires a lot of time and money. If you think your idea is unique and you want to patent it, you can start with a provisional patent. Filing a provisional patent is relatively easier, as you can do it yourself without an attorney. You can go to the USPTO website and do the entire process online. Then your idea will be protected for one year. During that year, you will get enough feedback on your idea to decide if it really is great and should have full patent protection. At that point, you will want to enlist the help of an attorney to apply for a patent.