Ray

I have been designing a new product and I am almost finished with the technical drawings and some related documentation. I am considering pitching the idea to a good friend of mine who has a related company and could manufacture and market the product if I agreed to sell it. I have full trust in my friend but I suppose you can never be too careful. I was wondering if I would already have any legal protection for my design and IP without a patent. Since I have documented everything in great detail and with extensive technical illustrations does this provide any legal protection if my design was copied without my permission? Would putting it 'on paper' and having an electronic record give me any basic legal protection for this invention?