What is the best way to secure credit for an original idea?

Question

My great grandfather was the first person ever to come up with the idea of putting little pieces of chopped up celery in his tuna. Needless to say, his idea caught on and is currently in use around the world. For those of you who don't know what I mean by, "tuna," I'm talking about tuna fish, the stuff you put on a tuna fish sandwich. This fish is now becoming endangered, although celery is still quite prevalent. Without the celery, the texture of the tuna fish just isn't the same. I'm sure you will agree with me on this point. Shouldn't my great-grandfather get some of the credit for this? Do you think he deserves some of the blame for the depletion of fish stocks in our world's oceans?

Answer 1

Posthumously we will give him credit in our own individual way, it may not be in writing in any books but by telling us what his name is then the next time we make Tuna Salad with celery we will remember him. I wouldn't blame him at all for the depletion of Tuna, think of what year it was, commercial fishing has grown more then he could have imagined as well the population of the world. Let's gives him his credit, the rest is up to us now.

Answer 2

He could always apply for a patent, or file a lawsuit against anyone who does it. But obviously, that makes less sense than just publishing his recipe for tuna, since it would then be "his" recipe via publication and copyrights, much like professional chefs.

Answer 3

The very first thing you would have to do is have actual documented proof that it was your great grandfather who actually invented the recipe, which is dubious at best. Only then can you trademart the idea.