examining the legal protection of idea (comparative study on the legal systems of iran and france)

idea is the starting point for the creation of intellectual works and the development of science and technology and art. in many cases, the birth of idea requires a lot of study and suffering. so the question is whether the idea has capability of legal support? the present article with descriptive and analytic method and by using comparative studies in the legal systems of france and iran, with investigating these questions in different legal areas, has concluded that in both the legal systems, the mere idea due to the lack of external form as literary and artistic works, industrial designs, trademarks, geographical indications, as well as computer software is not supportable. but the idea of the brand and also an idea that has industrial applications can, if there are the legal requirements, benefit from legal protection for brand or invention. also, if there are circumstances, it will have civil responsibilities for the aggressor of the idea. in french law it is possible to protect the idea by insidious competition claim and an idea that formed part of the contents of the database, is subject to special legal protections.