Protecting intellectual property

You're correct to be concerned. Unprotected ideas are always in danger of being stolen.

Of course, a patent affords protection, but only if you have begun the process and your idea is actually patentable. Until then, you must rely on maintaining your ideas as a trade secret and proprietary property of your business. The best way to protect a trade secret is by keeping it a secret. For over 100 years, Coca Cola has kept its syrup formula a secret, for example.

But the problem with trade secrets is that they're difficult to leverage with other groups, as you seem to want to do. That's where non-disclosure agreements come in. Talk with an intellectual property attorney (formerly known as patent attorneys) about creating an NDA designed to protect your specific intellectual property, your application of that property, and even as it relates to the specific involvement with other parties. Then use those NDAs religiously, and be prepared to protect them with legal action, if and when necessary.

Also, don't forget to consider the protection that is afforded by trademark and service mark registration.