If you publish a description of something, it immediately becomes unpatentable, by anyone (including you). This is because you cannot patent something that is i

If you publish a description of something, it immediately becomes unpatentable, by anyone (including you). This is because you cannot patent something that is in the public domain, and if you publish it, that's where it is. So that's patents. You may not have the money now, but later on when you do have the money, it won't matter, because you'll have put your invention into the public domain, and no amount of money will get it patented for you. (The other side of this, though, is that you can stop other people patenting it too, which is a tactic some inventors go for). As for other kinds of intellectual property right, I'm afraid I can't really help you. It really depends on where you live. I would suggest you read the information on the USPTO website (US Patent and Trademark Office) if you are in the US, or the equivalent for where you live. There may be some information there on your rights regarding your designs.