Hello people,

(I'm sure something like this has been discussed before, but I couldn't find it so....)

I've just had what I think is a bloody good idea for a non-fiction book! I'm quite excited as I really think I seem to have found a gap in the market (although this is quite a specialised area, so probably not the biggest market). Anyway, I've started researching and working on a proposal to send to publishers. Is there anything I can do to prevent my idea getting nicked? I'm normally a novelist, so not up on this stuff.

Cath

It's a very grey area Cath and I've been bitten a couple of times. I suggest you seek advice from the Writers Guild. The thing is you can't copywrite an idea which is why a lot of companies - publishers, Film producers etc are reluctant to read anything that doesn't come by way of an agent, just in case they are accused of stealing ideas. Sorry I can't be more helpful and good luck with your project.

Best

Julie

If it's a physical invention, like a new kind of lift-the-flap book, you could always apply for a patent. I'm sure if there is such a think about intellectual patents.

So, er, what is it?

(only joking!)
Colin M

Thanks for responses.

Hmm, well without saying too much (Colin!!), it's a careers/education book (I'm qualified as a careers adviser). I suppose, thinking about it, it is a decent size market (there's a careers library in every school, college, Connexions centre and also public libraries). However, there are only so many publishers that really specialise in this kind of thing, so I doubt their writers would generally have agents. I know one of the biggest careers/education publishers has a proposal form on its site - so obviously they are happy to accept stuff direct from writers.


Cath

The best way to protect your idea Cath is to write it down on a page of A4 and send it to yourself via registered post. Or you could ask a law firm to keep the unopened envelope in their vault or files or whatever and mark it by an official date stamp. It's all very gestapo, but these are two popular ways of copyrighting an idea.

Unfortunately (or not) you can only copyright an expression of an idea not the underlying idea itself. Although there are differences in interpretation, this applies to both copyright and patent law. Even if your idea is completely novel and you benefit from writing the first book, you will not be able to prevent further expressions of the idea unless you could establish copying of your original textual expression.


Jane