Protecting an idea which is NOT a Product

[mcilroyp]

What is the name of your state? New York

Is it possible to protect/Patent an idea which is not stricly speaking a product.

This relates to a unique service/concept which I intend to create online.

Thanks.

 

[racer72]

Ideas cannot be patented. Put your idea on paper and call it a business plan. Then be prepared to spend $1000 to $10,000 doing your research to obtain a patent. You can do a patent search yourself or the US Patent Office will do it for you, at $800 an hour.

 

[mcilroyp]

Ideas cannot be patented. Put your idea on paper and call it a business plan. Then be prepared to spend $1000 to $10,000 doing your research to obtain a patent. You can do a patent search yourself or the US Patent Office will do it for you, at $800 an hour.

THanks for the reply: I'm a little unclear though.
You say "ideas can not be patented" but then to "obtain a patent" once I have a business plan.

Does this mean that in some way a business plan acts as a 'product' which can be patented?

Thanks again.