Most people who’ve had a good idea know the sinking feeling: “What if someone steals this?” But protecting your rights, hiring a lawyer, or filing for patents can seem expensive, complicated, and almost exaggerated—especially when your idea is still scribbled on a napkin or tucked away in a note on your phone.
So what do you do? Simple: you send it to yourself.
Yes, you read that right. An email. Or even better: Digipost.
It might sound like an amateur trick. And it is. But sometimes, an amateur trick is better than no protection at all.
When you send an idea to yourself in a way that is date-stamped, you create a kind of “proof” that you had the idea at a certain time. This isn’t a legal right in itself, but it can be used as supporting evidence if a dispute arises over copyright or ownership.
Why Digipost Might Be Smarter Than Regular Email
Regular emails can be altered, forged, or questioned. It’s easy to claim something was sent earlier than it really was, and even emails with metadata and timestamps can be challenged.
Digipost, however, is a secure digital mail service developed by Posten Norge (Norway’s national postal service). Everything sent and received there is automatically stored with a verifiable date and time—and is very hard to tamper with afterward. Think of it as a digital vault for your documents.
So: Have you written down an idea, created a sketch, drafted a business model, or prepared a concept presentation?
Send it to yourself via Digipost. It takes five minutes, costs nothing, and gives you a digital “footprint” with a date and timestamp.
Digipost, however, is a secure digital mail service developed by Posten Norge (Norway’s national postal service). Everything sent and received there is automatically stored with a verifiable date and time, and it’s very difficult to tamper with afterward. Think of it as a digital vault for your documents.
Similar secure digital mailboxes exist in other countries too, and they offer a stronger alternative to regular email when you want to document an idea in a verifiable way.
When Could This Be Useful?
Let’s say you:
- Have a business idea you’re discussing with potential partners.
- Write a script, a song, or a design you want feedback on.
- Develop a concept for a service, app, product, or workshop.
- Present an idea at a meeting without having a signed NDA.
- Pitch something to investors or a public organization.
In all these cases, documenting what you had—and when you had it—can be valuable. Not because it automatically grants exclusive rights, but because it helps establish your version of the idea’s origin and development.
What Actually Provides Protection?
Let’s be clear: sending something to yourself is not the same as filing a patent or registering a trademark.
Here’s a quick overview of what actually applies:
| Type of Right | What It Protects | How to Get It |
|---|---|---|
| Copyright | Texts, music, art, code | Automatic upon creation |
| Design Registration | The appearance of products | Apply to the Patent Office |
| Patent | Technical solutions | Must be new, inventive, and useful |
| Trademark | Names, logos, slogans | Register nationally or with the EU |
Copyright is free and takes effect the moment you create something original.
However, business ideas, concepts, and non-artistic solutions may fall outside its scope—which is where having documentation can make a difference.
How Much Does It Cost to Protect an Idea?
Before we talk about costs, it’s important to understand:
It is very difficult, if not impossible, to fully protect a business idea, a website, or a user journey.
Design registration typically only protects the visual appearance of a product, icon, or interface—not how a service actually works.
Patents, meanwhile, can be expensive and are often not very effective for business ideas. A patent only protects the specific solution described in the application. If someone makes minor adjustments or subtle changes, they can often launch a similar product without infringing the patent.
This is why patents are rarely suitable for protecting business ideas, concepts, or user experiences. Most ideas today build on existing solutions and focus more on improvements than on entirely new inventions.
Costs vary depending on the country, but typical examples are:
- Patent application: Filing fees alone can range from $500 to $1,000, with total costs including legal help often reaching $5,000–$20,000 or more.
- Trademark registration: Basic registration may cost around $300 to $800 for a national trademark, depending on the number of classes and jurisdiction.
- Design registration: Typically costs between $200 and $1,000, depending on where you apply and how many designs you register.
Additional expenses for maintenance, renewals, international protection, and legal enforcement can significantly increase these amounts. Protecting an idea formally can be a costly and complex process—especially when you’re just getting started.
Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)
If you’re presenting something you truly believe is valuable, it’s smart to ask the recipient to sign a simple NDA first.
It might sound a bit “American,” but it’s a standard practice and signals that you take your creation seriously.
A basic NDA should clearly state:
- What information is considered confidential.
- Who is agreeing to keep it confidential.
- How long the confidentiality obligation lasts.
- That the information cannot be shared, used, or disclosed without permission.
However, an NDA is a next-level step. Sending an email to yourself is basic first aid – quick, free, and often better than having no protection at all.
In Conclusion
You don’t have to be an entrepreneur, artist, or techie to have an idea worth protecting. You just need to want to ensure that what you thought, created, or planned can be traced back to you.
Today, creating full legal protection for an idea is almost impossible. Patents, trademarks, and design registrations are often complicated, expensive, and impractical—especially early on.
That’s why it’s important to do what you can, with the tools you have. It’s not bulletproof. But it’s free, simple, and far better than doing nothing.
So next time you get a good idea: Don’t just think it. Describe it—and send it to yourself.
I’d love to hear from you. How do you protect your ideas, or what challenges have you faced? Drop a comment below — your experience might inspire someone else too!
