[nemothekid]

>I want to be able to distribute my project to potential users and allow them to use it freely while also preventing competitors from copying the ideas into their own products.

1. If your product is truly great and you build it well, chances are your own momentum will carry you into building a great moat. Most SaaS companies, with novel technology, have very few similarly sized competitors. Your time is best spent building your company as technology rarely "makes" the company.

2. If a startup steals your idea and grows fast enough for you to notice (with enough VC money or something) they will just ignore you until they are big enough to pay you off. While you are spending money on lawyers they will be spending money on customer acquisition.

3. If a large company steals your idea, they will either out lawyer you or counter sue with whatever patent library they have.

[dsanchez97]

Definitely agree that a great product creates the most momentum and biggest moat! I figured this thread would be a good place to have a discussion and hear some other peoples experiences (and doesn't cost me lawyer fees).