Intellectual Property: A Comprehensive Overview
Intellectual Property: A Comprehensive Overview Intellectual Property (IP) refers to creations of the mind: inventions; literary and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names, images, and logos used in commerce. IP is divided into two main categories: Industrial Property and Copyright. Industrial Property Industrial Property generally covers inventions (patents), trademarks, industrial designs, and geographic indications. Patents To be patentable, an invention must be new, involve an inventive step, and have industrial application. Trademarks This may include words, designs, symbols, or any combination thereof. Trademarks protect the brand identity and reputation of a business. Industrial Designs An industrial design consists of the appearance of the whole or a part of a product resulting from the features of lines, contours, colors, shape, texture, and/or materials, and/or ornamentation of the product itself....