Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names and images used in commerce.
IP is protected in law by, for example, patents, copyrights and trademarks, which enable people to earn recognition or financial benefit from what they invent or create. By striking the right balance between the interests of innovators and the wider public interest, the IP system aims to foster an environment in which creativityCreativity is a characteristic of someone or some process that forms something new and valuable. The created item may be intangible or a physical object.... and innovationInnovation is a process by which a domain, a product, or a service is renewed and brought up to date by applying new processes, introducing... can flourish.
Types of intellectual property
- Patents: A patent is an exclusive right granted for an inventionInvention is the act of bringing ideas or objects together in a novel way to create something that did not exist before.. Generally speaking, a patent provides the patent owner with the right to decide how - or whether - the invention can be used by others. In exchange for this right, the patent owner makes technical information about the invention publicly available in the published patent documentTo record or observe and make written, visual or digital notes from an event, performance or place.
- CopyrightCopyright refers to the legal right of the owner of intellectual property. In simpler terms, copyright is the right to copy. This means that the original creators...: Copyright is a legal term used to describe the rights that creators have over their literary and artistic works. Works covered by copyright range from books, music, paintings, sculptureSculpture is three-dimensional art made by one of four basic processes: carving, modelling, casting, constructing. The term installation art is used to describe large-scale, mixed-media... and films, to computer programs, databases, advertisements, maps and technical drawings.
- Trademarks: A trademark is a sign capable of distinguishing the goods or services of one enterprise from those of other enterprises. Trademarks date back to ancient times when artisans used to put their signature or "mark" on their products.
- Industrial designs: An industrial designDesign shapes ideas to become practical solutions and propositions for customers and users. Design is all around us, everything man made has been designed. The... constitutes the ornamental or aesthetic aspect of an article. A design may consist of three-dimensional features, such as the shapeShapes are two-dimensional. Positive shapes represent solid objects and negative shapes show the surrounding space. Geometric shapes are perfect and regular. Organic shapes are irregular... or surface of an article, or of two-dimensional features, such as patterns, lines or colourChoices of colour and the relationships between colours have a huge influence on how a piece or art or design looks and feels and the....
- Geographical indications: Geographical indications and appellations of origin are signs used on goods that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities, a reputation or characteristics that are essentially attributable to that place of origin. Most commonly, a geographical indication includes the name of the place of origin of the goods.
- Trade secrets: Trade secrets are IP rights on confidential information which may be sold or licensed. The unauthorized acquisition, use or disclosure of such secret information in a manner contrary to honest commercial practices by others is regarded as an unfair practice and a violation of the trade secret protection.
