Is it better to call a potential web designer about your idea for a new website or , is it good to fill out the form on the designers website describing your idea, for fear of theft protection?

Neither, since neither way has any means of protecting against theft. About the only legal way you're going to solve that is with a patent, and even then that won't necessarily stop the designer; it simply may serve as a deterrent.

Then what do u suggest

The same thing I suggested earlier: patent your idea. If it's that good an idea, and you don't trust a web designer/developer not to steal it, then you'd want it legally protected in any manner possible.

Thanx...Adam

Originally Posted by crock

Is it better to call a potential web designer about your idea for a new website or , is it good to fill out the form on the designers website describing your idea, for fear of theft protection?

You can always have the potential web designer sign a confidentiality agreement but just like patents, there are workarounds. At least with a confidentiality agreement you can sue the web designer if he or anyone he associates with comes out with anything similar to your concept and/or idea.

If it's that great of an idea then patent it first and have anyone you discuss the development of your idea sign a confidentiality agreement. You can only go so far to protect your idea and the more time you waste the better chance that someone else is going to have the same idea.

Are you talking about, approaching a web designer with an idea on how you want the website? If that's the case, there really isn't anything to steal. I mean the web design world only has so many limitations and it's nothing new, just recycled and modified ideas.

Now if you are talking about business specific information, that is confidential. Then you need to meet in person. You don't want to share the fact that you can beat competitors prices, because you have X Y Z suppliers, etc... Before discussing such information you need to at a minimum protect it via an agreement mentioned above ^^ and use common sense to ensure against what you cannot control.