answer:I’m no expert in this, but I don’t think that “an idea” can be protected. To be protected, you would have to have developed the idea and demonstrated either a working prototype or process. The intellectual property is the design and build of the prototype or the process itself. Without that it’s just another good idea among the millions that occur every day. So my best advice would be to discuss the idea of a partnership with the app developer that you know (and trust?) with the general understanding that you can provide process ideas and branches as well as other specifications dealing with the app, and the developer will provide the necessary coding, user interface (again, with your input) databases and forms required. I don’t think that your idea can be protected until it has come together with the code, database (or whatever other information requirements you have), screens and other interfaces, and the app is demonstrated to have some kind of utility (or entertainment) value.