Has Anyone Ever Stolen Your Idea?

Thread starter TheStatutoryApe
Start date Jul 1, 2009
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Idea

AI Thread Summary

The discussion centers around the common experience of individuals feeling their ideas have been "stolen" or preempted by others. Many participants share personal anecdotes of independently developing concepts only to see them later realized by someone else, often without proper credit. Examples include ideas for character designs, product innovations, and technological concepts that were either dismissed or not pursued due to lack of resources. The conversation highlights the frustrations of working in corporate environments where idea ownership is often murky, leading to feelings of betrayal among employees. Overall, the thread illustrates a widespread sentiment of missed opportunities and the challenges of bringing innovative ideas to fruition.

Sep 27, 2009

Loren Booda

In my 11th grade (1976) functions class, a classmate of mine - Dewey Allen - noticed a pattern with simple derivatives of a curve. Our teacher suggested that I, being his most accomplished student, try to prove the conjecture - and in a month, I did.

The proof helped me get into Yale, and years later I included it on my website (below, the "Booda Theorem"). It took me a few more years (~2005) to get around to giving Dewey credit for finding the pattern.