The issue of protecting unique business ideas is always an acute problem for its developers, since on the one hand it is necessary to obtain a patent for their development, which means revealing its essence, and on the other hand it is important to prevent the leakage of secret information from the company

     It is known that the idea itself is not protected by law, but its implemented version is subject to preservation. And the faster this idea is practically implemented, the more efficient and profitable the business will develop.

     To bring an idea to life more quickly, financial support is required, which means attracting investors with whom you need to share information about it. In this case, it is important to protect the company from information leakage to competitors and at the same time not to scare off investors by providing them with convincing evidence about the profitability of the investment, but at the same time concealing the most important things. You can also enter into a non-disclosure agreement with investors, recognizing the information as a trade secret.

      To protect an idea, some companies use the ability to separate functional responsibilities among developers and implementers so that no one can know the entire scope of work with the invention. The idea of ​​fragmenting the production cycle of an invention is not new. For example, only a few people know the recipe for Coca-Cola, and in fragments, so that no one can reveal the full recipe for making the drink and pass it on to competitors.

     Since business idea is only a starting point, an initial stage before its implementation, it is important to calculate in detail all the scenarios for its implementation, for which it is created business plan, which includes financial forecasts, marketing strategies, market analysis, and the like. A business plan helps investors assess the potential of a business idea with all the risks. That is, a business idea is the initial concept for business development, and a business plan is its key tool that allows you to develop a business development strategy and attract the necessary financing for its implementation.

     The choice of how to protect an idea also depends on its type. Its subject can also be technical objects. For example, if a new device or new technology for the manufacture of this device has been created, an application for an invention is filed. And only after submitting an application can information about it be published in the form of articles, speeches at conferences or exhibitions.

     If a new product design is invented, you can apply for industrial design patent, and if an original slogan or logo has been developed - an application for trademark. After submitting the application, priority is fixed.

     Despite the fact that the business plan, although it does not relate to such objects of intellectual property as inventions, utility models, industrial designs or trademarks, it may still contain information about them, and therefore may be protected as know-how. So, in accordance with Art. 1465 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, know-how is defined as information of an economic, production nature or as a result of intellectual activity in the scientific and technical field, which has commercial value, to which third parties cannot have free access legally and in relation to them the owner of such information has introduced a trade secret regime. In addition, a business plan can be considered an object of copyright. That is, the business plan can potentially be recognized know-how.

     However, it should be noted that the exclusive right to know-how is valid as long as the confidentiality of the information is maintained, otherwise the exclusive right to a production secret is terminated for all right holders.

That is, unlike other objects of intellectual property, know-how can be protected almost indefinitely, but until confidential information is disclosed.