Do I need to patent an Internet project?

Question

Startups

Greetings!
There is already a developed version of the Internet project, but recently I came across a similar Internet project already published. In fact, this is a catalog of services in a special category.
If I launch my project, will I violate copyright?
How did the issue, for example, the couponers solve? There are many of them, the essence of the work is the same.
olx, irr, localmart - they are all ad directories. Or, Internet projects are not patented?

Answer 1

Or, Internet projects are not patented?

Something like this. Ideas are patented. You will not be allowed to patent a catalog of ads. Algorithm for displaying ads - will give.

Answer 2

You can find out, of course, by contacting the patent office.
But if the code is completely written by you, then it is unique.
When registering an application for a patent, you indicate the scope and source code of the application or algorithm, and only the source code can be used to claim (well, or according to the specification as a last resort).
So I don't think there is any problem.

Answer 3

You can protect the name, trademark, multimedia materials.
Even texts can be protected from illegal use by escrow. In fact, obtaining a copyright certificate for a code is the same deposit of text.
Only inventions and utility models can be patented. These definitions have clear criteria and the project does not fit them.
Protecting a project is a whole range of measures outlined above. In your case, it is enough to have a unique name, photos and texts.