Business Starting Grants

How do i sue a company/person that stole my business idea?

I submitted my business idea to a company who said they loved it and would look into it. They cut-off communications, and then acted on my business proposal. Im very angry and sad that they did this. * How do i sue the company? * HOW DO I SUE THE INDIVIDUAL? on what grounds? * Can i get legal aid? Where can i get further information? (im based in the UK) Im really serious about this so any help is really appreciated.

Public Comments

1. you shouldnt of showed it to them ? did you have copyright? im no lawyer but i dont think you can do much
2. First get a lawyer. This sounds like a High Court job and you can't do it yourself. Second - you've got to prove it. You can't get legal aid. The law is a rich man's game and the richest player usually wins.
3. The 1st question is did you properly protcet you idea? Copyright it or trademark. Do you have proof it was your idea before it was theirs If you did then you need to get a solicitor and sue them for it If you have not protected it then you are out of luck and have learned a lesson. ADDITION: Your only hope is is you did copyright or trademark the idea. There is only one other way and that is if you entered into a contract with them that shows you brought the idea to them and that they agreed on compensation for the idea. Sorry mate but this is a lesson learned the hard way. Next time protect yourself and get your idea on record.
4. unless you have a copyyright or any type of documentation that prooves that you own the idea, you're beat. do you have anything that shows you presented this idea to them? paperwork, fax's emails anything? if not, you have no grounds. if that were the case, people would sue all the time stating the very same thing you are claiming.
5. Can you prove that it was your idea?? If yes, get a lawyer; if no, forget everything.
6. you have not got a hope in hell this as happened many times over the years bill gates started microsoft on the back of someone elses idea believe me and now look at him
7. The answers above are pretty much on the button. In the UK there is no property in ideas and therefore they can't be stolen. They only become legal property if they are copyrighted or trademarked. If you have a cause of action you can sue either the individual to whom you passed the idea or the company who used it. If you have a claim. You can't get legal aid. You will not be able to pursue the matter without legal help, don't even try. And you need the sort of legal help you pay for. There is no cheap or easy way to bring a claim of this nature and if anyone tells you differently they don't know what they're talking about.