So it may not be an origional idea...it doesn't matter

Don't let the fear of not being first deter you...and if you are first don't let the fear of it being copied deter you either.

The original Hydropal Patent was filed on Friday the 31st of May 1995...on the following Monday the 3rd of April 1995 a guy called Jack Nohren filed a Patent for the same concept but a different way of making a filtered sports bottle, in the USA...that's three days difference across the other side of the world by a guy 50 years older than me and a completely different upbringing...I still find it incredible  (just for the record my patent covers the single best way but there is always another way).

So think about it...there are 6.7 billion people in the world so you can bet a whole pile of money that at some point somebody else has come up with the same idea as you...what makes the difference is your 100% belief you are going to make it work and the perseverance to pursue it.