For a few bucks you can do a statutory invention registration so that when a sociopath company CEO steals your invention and patents it, at least he can't sue you for infringement.
Some people think getting a patent is just a money sink and if you're going to make less than $12M/year you shouldn't do it.
In the fight over who invented intermittent windshield wipers each side had about half a dozen lawyers, IIRC.