Copyright Info on and Idea I have come up with???? Please help?

Answer 1

the cheap answer is to write down all the details and send them to yourself as registered mail.
not only will you have a postmark stating time and date you'll also have a tamper proof seal.
don't open this when you get it and just keep it in a safe place.
if you ever need to go to court you'll have proof as to date and copyright ownership

Answer 2

It is not possible to protect ideas but rather the representation of that idea.

Here's details on the three branches of intellectual property; after reading them over, you should have a good idea where to go next.

PATENTS:
To protect an original invention OR a significant improvement to an existing product, a patent would be filed. Here's the USPTO's definition: http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/doc/general/index.html#patent

COPYRIGHTS:
Copyrights can be obtained for things of an artistic nature. This includes, of course, poetry, films, sculptures, music, fiction, etc. But can also include things that may not necessarily seem "artistic" in the general sense of the word. Copyrights can also be obtained for advertising copy, games, software programs and blueprints, to name just a few.

Despite what others state, a "poor man's" copyright is NOT the same as registering it. Here's what the US Copyright Office has to say:

"The practice of sending a copy of your own work to yourself is sometimes called a 'poor man’s copyright.' There is no provision in the copyright law regarding any such type of protection, and it is not a substitute for registration."

TRADEMARKS:
Trademarks can be names of products or services, logos, slogans, packaging and even sounds and smells. In essence, a trademark can be almost anything that is used to identify a particular product or service. Registering a trademark grants the owner exclusive rights to the mark within the specified industry.

Of course, it's necessary to research the mark comprehensively prior to filing to ensure that there is no possibility of infringing upon another party.

Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!