There are categories of patents and copyrights.

 

My idea,

because nobody else pointed it out,

because nobody else was developing it (until I came up with it),

because it is valuable, (why it is sought after)

because it is profitable,

it is a MARKETABLE business idea.

 

And because it can be applied in so many areas,

one cannot generalize it and send it off to the public domain.

 

It may not be then an utility patent,

but design patent and/or copyrights in its discovery is in order.

And for others, perhaps right to use with a small given fee, issued of license from it,

is in order.

 

And it is up to the interpretation and iteration of it during the patent/copyright.

That is up to the investor to do so for me, to work with and follow up my idea in development

in this competition.

 

You can technically isolate it in the realm of mechanical engineering, and that would become an utility/design patent. It is in the generalization of the idea that it becomes confused of whether it belongs in the public space.

But discovery should be credited,

 and 'method' of business can also be a copyright/patent in its own form.

Up to distribution of license.