But creative works are copyrighted at the moment of their creation in whatever manner the creator chooses.
True; but if you write a song, dont register it with the Library of Congress, and give me a copy; I can register it and it now (legally) belongs to ME. Creative works don't require you register (it belonged to you when you wrote it); but a court will take my registration of it over your word; unless you have another means to legally prove time of authorship. That's not as easy as it seems, except for the Postal trick; although registration with the Library of Congress isn't that expensive. Especially if you have more than a few items to register.
Novel ideas/invention type things are a little different, you do have to file a patent application to have it protected. There are also ways of demonstrating prior art in the case where someone patents something you created. That doesn't necessarily grant you one, but it can keep them from profiting from your work. This is all assuming you have the $$$ to get a patent granted in the first place, or the $$$ to fight it if you didn't file for one. The whole thing is pretty screwed and there is not much room for the little guy. Most patents are obscure minutiae filed by employees of corporations, and most of those times the patent will be owned by the employer, not the employee. Lots of times the company will "buy" the patent from the employee for a token $1 fee or something like that.
Well, usually working for the company, the "little guy" is using company resources to fund the research and development FOR the company. It's called work-for-hire; and the company owns the patent; if there is one.
Now if you break bad and invent something on your own, on your own time that doesn't violate your employer's "non-disclosure" agreement, using your own resources; then you can file for a patent, and be the "little guy" owner. Patents are expensive, however, and a waste of money if you can't sell the invention (either outright; or producing/marketing yourself). Ever seen the Brop? A broom on one end, and a mop on the other. There's an example of something you don't really need to waste money for a patent. A better approach for something like that is to do a series of small test marketing campaigns to sell if the product generates any interest at all before spending the cash for a patent.
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