I always remember this story making me smile;

Back in 2002 (not 1982), Lord Sainsbury launch the Innovation Log Book.  The idea was to help people record and protect their ideas and it was a joint initiative between the DTI's innovation unit and the Patent Office.

You can read more about it here;

http://www.innovationlogbook.gov.uk/ 

At the time, Lord Sainsbury said;

"The UK is widely recognised for its inventive nature. We have always had good ideas. Our original thinkers are now increasingly turning them into tangible results. To do this effectively, innovators must ensure that they properly protect their valuable ideas. I therefore welcome the introduction of the Innovation Logbook, which will help them to do this and in turn, help the UK to build on its inventive foundations to create commercial success."

It was the execution of the idea which made me smile. 

Anyone who wanted to order a book of their own needed only to....download and print the pdf form on the website and post or fax it to the publisher with credit card details...

This in the year AFTER the POPE sent his first email...the year AFTER Wikipedia went live. 

And you couldn't even BUY the log book online...let alone use its online equivalent...

I suppose this is why events like Uploading Innovation are so powerful...they will help ensure that great ideas go hand in hand with great execution.