[header] How to protect a marketing idea [title] Avoid talking about the idea until you have a plan in place. [step] Pitching an idea or sharing it with friends can lead to someone else taking it. It is legal for another person to take a marketing idea and use it and improve on it. 
[title] Determine if your idea can be copyrighted, trademarked or patented. [step] Although the rules vary slightly depending upon your country of origin, the following are general rules for these 2 legal concepts : [substeps] A copyright protects original works of authorship, and it is mainly used for creative arts, like writing, music and painting.