How do I find out if something is already copyrighted?

Where can I find legitimate investors?

• In June of 2003 I had an idea come to me while holding my teacup Chihuahua. Rico (my Chihuahua) had extremely sharp nails and was scratching me while sitting in the car talking with my step daughter. While I was being scratched I looked over to Kayla and said something to the effect of, "You know how when you stick a pencil inside a pencil sharpener that when you pull the pencil out it's sharp? What if you could stick an animals nails into something similar but instead of sharpening, it made the nails completely round and dull?" And so it began. I drew up the plans and 4 months later created a prototype which I tried out on Rico. It worked perfectly. I even had the perfect name for it, "Peticure." I sent the idea (drawings, schematics, etc...) into one of those late night infomercials, which I believe was Davison, but I can't really recall but the name rings a bell. After sending it in they said that they would look it over and let me know if they would manufacture and market it for me. After about a month I received an email and formal letter stating that my idea was not marketable. Less then a year later my now ex called me up very upset that I had gone and cashed in on my invention without telling her. I of course had no idea what she was talking about. She sent me to a website called "Peticure." I was completely flabbergasted that not only did they steal my idea, but it was almost the exact same model that I had created, which the nail hyponychium (quick) window and all. I never had my idea patented and the only proof I had that it was mine was that I had sent in all of my artwork, notes, date of conception to be copyrighted. I spoke to a lawyer and he told me that I was basically screwed because that wasn't enough. I've always thought that he was full of crap but have never again attempted to see if I could sue. Anyway. The reason I am asking for information about investors is because I am sitting on a handful of other inventions but am too paranoid to send anything in (I don't have the money nor do I know anyone with the money) to one of the "invention" companies for fear of once again being ripped off or somehow swindled. If I had had an investor for my Peticure idea then I more then likely wouldn't be writing this Yahoo! Answers question and would probably be sitting somewhere on the beach in South America sipping on a foo foo drink pondering the meaning of life. If anyone has any ideas of where I can find investors that are real and not some type of scam then it would be greatly appreciated. I know that they are out there and I was hoping to get some credible information from someone that knows the ropes. Thanks!

• Answer:

  An investor cannot help you with your problem. An investor only can provide you with money. You must create the prototype of a working model, research the market and design the campaign to bring it to market, or find a manufacturer who will do it for you.