It is a common misconception that copyright protects your idea, this is not true. Copyright protects the expression of an idea, that is the written words describing it or the image you draw of it, but it does not protect the idea itself. Typically, you protect an idea by keeping it to yourself or having someone sign a confidentiality agreement before you tell them about it.
As you develop your IP you need to make sure it is properly assigned to you. If not assigned to you then licensed to you appropriately. Intellectual Property Protection requires you to have some rights to the IP. More often than not this requires a legal document or registration. Far too often people invest millions in IP over many years only to find themselves in predicaments which now threaten their well-established business. When it comes to Intellectual Property Protection, a stitch in time saves nine.
Finally, when you have taken all steps to protect your IP you need to enforce that protection. Often this can be done with a letter of demand from a lawyer, other times it takes an order of the court. But it is usually a case of protect it or lose it.
