mikedee - 5:45 pm on Feb 19, 2008 (gmt 0)

This was not a simple idea, but rather a business plan, which could be fully copyrighted.

The complaint does not mention copyright at all, he is complaining about misappropriation of ideas and fraud. Even if it was a full blown business plan, there is no law against taking the idea without a contract being in place.

I thought think tanks and economists normally get paid for research and reports and advice generated from this. Anyone can take their ideas without paying them, you just cant copy their reports verbatim.