Now, each design student or professional designer is able to protect his ideas costfree. This works via the so called “non registered EU Community design”. This offers a protection against copying within the countries of the European community for 36 month and can be changed into a normal “registered Design” within the first 12 month.
The cheapest opportunity to do so – 100% costfree – is offered by the design-site designmix.com - http://www.designmix.com/enon.html with its 30 days trial account. By publicating your designs on this site, the design is showed to the professional circles – and this is the point to achieve the protection.
Anyway recommendable before you make an approach to market your designs!