I'm at University, for an assignment I have developed an original recipe for a fish curry. An Indian ready meal company has tried the recipe and want a copy. I am unsure whether to email them my recipe. Do I own the copyright? Also can I ask them how they are going to use the recipe and am I entitled to anything?

Hi Flo, I am very impressed that a Uni Student is up and working at 0657! What is your secret? My three had no trouble at the end of the day, but early starts were a no no!As to your question. It is a gray area legally. Ownership of recipe is very hard to prove in law as there are almost no totally original recipes. That said, Heston B at Bray is an example of new approaches with common ingredients and he could probably argue with some success that he is unique in the way that he prepares a particular dish.The main problem is that even if you marketed your fish curry in this country you would only be protected here if you could link the recipe to the brand name. As soon as you start to export the dish you run the risk of copies being made and in the case of India, fighting your case in the courts would be lengthy and you probably will not win.Your best bet would be to ask the company what they intend to do with your recipe and ask for a payment if they use it. Your best approach here is probably a one off payment as you will have no way of checking how much is sold if they market it.

Sorry to be a wet blanket, but if you put yourself in the place of this company and then work out what you would offer an aspiring cook for a recipe, you will probably see how you will be treated. Good LuckDavid