Have you ever worried about someone "stealing" your ideas?

[Magenta-Fantasies]

I've never thought "I'd like to make a game/novel/any type of work. Now, I just need an idea for it." It works the opposite way for me: I have an idea that keeps growing and developing until I have to decide what to do with all these ideas.

I am concerned about people stealing my ideas, but I also keep lots of documentation both online and physically that they were my creations. I have drawings and notes that go back many years, and I generally leave old works on my social media in case there is ever any kind of copyright dispute.

 

[ericv00]

I have personally had ideas taken and used to profit the taker, so I do hold certain ideas close. But there are different kinds of ideas that I apply different levels of care to. Some I throw out into the world because I don't have the time or drive to realize them myself. Some I throw out there because they are not much more than mildly interesting. But some will die with me unless I am able to bring them to life.

I don't like the thought that there are no new ideas. There certainly are. They may not be what you expect, though. Anything can be phrased in such a way to diminish 'originality', but as far as execution, MOST things are new ideas. Floating castle? Been done. Floating ICE castle? Probably. Floating castle elevated by balloons? It's possible. Floating ice castle elevated by balloons. Uh... maaaaybe. Floating ice castle elevated by balloons with a cross-dressing accountant hero upon it's throne of cedar boughs? Probably not. All the pieces that make up a full story are extemely unlikely to be a duplicate of another. SOMETHING about it will be novel, unique. You just have to try to make it GOOD.

 

[Lornsteyn]

If I would have a great new idea, the first thing I would do is to not share it with anyone until the project would be finished. Common sense.
In general you cant copyright ideas, so after a new game is released with fresh ideas, some bad copycats will follow and some people/companys will adapt and make eventually a better game with your concept, like the whole Pokemonlike games popping up on steam atm.
Or do you mean story ideas? That of course would be really lame if someone copys them, but like I said dont share stuff until you finished.

 

[lianderson]

No, next question.