[trux]

Probably the only relatively safe way to protect any invention is patenting it, but it is usually not quite cheap (check out with your local patent office). Intellectual property, such as diverse publications, programming code, graphics, etc., can be also protected by copyright laws. It is cheaper - you can publish the work, or send it in a registered letter to your lawyer or notary, or even to yourself. That's an inexpensive way of protection, but am afraid it would not work for this type of invention.