Patenting a business model

If we had continued pursuing the patent, today we would be able to live off it. During the Netjuice period, I thought up and initiated the patent process for a business model known as “Digital Profile”. In the U.S., it is possible to patent business models, something which cannot be done in Europe. It was a social network to promote business - generated by the fans themselves - first for celebrities from the world of music and other categories. However, we are talking about 1999, long before there was serious talk of social networks and they were as prevalent as they now are.
The patent application was accepted, but when we saw that it was almost impossible to invest the five million dollars we had estimated to launch the project - at that time it was much more expensive because it was necessary to buy the initial content, yes, that’s right, buy - we abandoned the project.
Today I discovered a German social network, Welike, which, had I gone ahead with the parent, would have to pay us royalties because part of it has a lot in common with the business model I proposed ten years ago.
Perhaps because of this and many other situations in which I have dealt with great ideas - mine and those of others - which never bore fruit, I have stopped believing ONLY in great ideas and started looking much more at the capacity to implement them. A lesser idea which is well carried out can be a great business, and a great idea which is never started isn’t worth a thing. Of course, a good idea which is developed well is just the ticket…
Back to work…

Translation by babelic.com

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