Intellectual Property

Intellectual Property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, symbols, names, and images used in commerce. It encompasses various legal rights that grant creators and owners protection over their unique creations. The primary types of intellectual property include patents, which protect inventions; trademarks, which safeguard brand names and logos; copyrights, which cover original works of authorship like books and music; and trade secrets, which protect confidential business information. The purpose of intellectual property laws is to encourage innovation and creativity by providing legal rights to creators, allowing them to control the use of their inventions and works, and potentially profit from them. This protection also promotes the dissemination of knowledge by requiring public disclosure of certain protected innovations, thus contributing to the advancement of society.