Get a date and time stamp (a cheap time clock at Staples, Office Max and Office Depot. Learn and always remember to label your ideas, the special names with a "copyright" and or "Trademark."Ya, I've learned sometimes I need to just keep my mouth shut.
When you come up with something you feel strongly about that's when you pay just a few bucks and formally secure your words, drawings, techniques and ideas at your nearest registration or patent office. Most banks have Notaries and will notarize your scribbled ideas or whatever you have for free if you have an account there. Same for Triple A road service.
A sure way to make money is to let someone think your an idiot and steal your intellectual property. Chances are they won't bother to check if you have done your due diligence. But you need to keep up with things in your industry just like you have, and when you catch them you'll have no problem finding a good attorney to represent you on a contingency basis.