How do I protect an idea for advertising that was presented almost seven years ago to [company name]?
I am researching for the creator of the idea. He presented the idea a second time last year at a stockholders’ meeting. He feels the company is interested but refuses to purchase it. Based on current advertising it is a huge possibility that they may be preparing to use it anyway. — Rhonda A. Unfortunately, it may be difficult to protect an advertising idea seven years after disclosing it, although it may be possible to protect elements of that idea. What elements of an advertising idea are protectable? Well, the general rule is that copyright law does not protect ideas; however, copyright law does protect descriptions, illustrations, explanations, musical, and even audiovisual elements that could all make up the backbone of an advertising idea. Section 102(a) of the Copyright Act provides as follows: Copyright protection subsists, in accordance with this title, in original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression, now known or later developed, from which they ca
