Well, in the real world you only have two choices: "Patent" (public disclosure of you idea) or "Trade Secret" (no public disclosure). Both have their advantages and problems.
A good Patent Attorney will extend coverage to most all of the areas that are unique to your "disclosed ideas" in a Patent.
If not Patented and if someone says something in the wrong place i.e. trade shows, then the 'cat is out of the bag' and later on you may have to pay someone else to use your original idea which had not be protected by a Patent. Happens all the time.
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