I mean, large software developers are fighting over game mechanics, but they have salaried legal teams, and general need to “not look weak” in terms of protecting their IP. On your scale, I would only take sure-shots, such as protecting your IP’s name on basis of using it long before someone else.
Just in case, I’m not a legal specialist, but I have some general knowledge on this (some from uni, some from working in marketing agencies who create and develop brands, naming, copy, for others)