Having been through the patent process, your ideas have to be documented as originating with you and well documented in a patent application before you can even submit the idea for a patent. That said, even if you have a patent, you have to be prepared to identify anyone using your idea and implementing your concept with legal action. Basically if you are not willing to defend your patent, it does not protect you at all. That is why the Chinese copy any good idea and put out copies with minor modifications on the market, usually before you can even get your own product out for sale. So you need a really good killer application to make it worth the effort for a patent and its defense.
Having been through the patent process, your ideas have to be documented as originating with you and well documented in a patent application before you can even submit the idea for a patent. That said, even if you have a patent, you have to be prepared to identify anyone using your idea and implementing your concept with legal action. Basically if you are not willing to defend your patent, it does not protect you at all. That is why the Chinese copy any good idea and put out copies with minor modifications on the market, usually before you can even get your own product out for sale. So you need a really good killer application to make it worth the effort for a patent and its defense.
