Make as much noise as possible about your product/service. Which goes against what people assume, which is to remain quiet and guarded about it until you're fully ready for a grand launch, but really most products don't launch like that anymore (unless inside of an already large company).
You have to make noise, attract users, and in turn establish yourself in the market. Without doing so, it's easy to rip from other projects, especially when they're willing to spend more time maintaining it post-launch than you.
Just actually have something to make noise about, not an idea of an idea, but something actually implemented even if partial.
I didn't mention this. I am implementing the idea btw (and not waiting for it) and will have a MVP to demo, irrespective of what I do with the protection angle. It was more around what to do when I do set customer demo's.
You have to make noise, attract users, and in turn establish yourself in the market. Without doing so, it's easy to rip from other projects, especially when they're willing to spend more time maintaining it post-launch than you.
Just actually have something to make noise about, not an idea of an idea, but something actually implemented even if partial.