Flying Cars? whats your point?
Chances are that if you are starting a business and you have competition already that they have thought of your idea or something similar and chose not to do it for whatever reason.
My business is www.shelfmade.net - I am now friends with a guy at sharedbook.com. Look how similar the businesses are. I have told him my ideas and he has told me a good deal bout his company. As obvious as I think my idea would be to his company, they are just not into it. They are not going to steal the idea unless I first prove it - then they would know about it anyway.
(Sorry my thoughts are a bit scattered- don't directly address your question, but I'm sure there is a point somewhere)