Intellectual Property Rights

Intellectual Property (IP) is defined, as creations of the mind. What does this mean? Does it mean that anything a person can think of is his or her intellectual property? In the eyes of the government, IP law is the field of law that governs the ownership and proprietary rights of material that fall under trademarks, patents, copyrights, and trade secrets.

IP can range in structure from a song to a symbol to the contents of a website. Names, images, and designs that are registered and associated with an entity or individual also fall into this category of law.

Intellectual property rights are the set of rights and privileges given to the owner of the IP material. Patents, trademarks, and copyrights are all considered types of intellectual property rights through which an entity or individual may profit, as long as the claims to a creation, invention, or trade secret are authentic.

Basic Intellectual Property Rights

IP rights can be divided into four separate categories: patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. As time marches on and new technologies emerge, these rights will evolve to cover those new technologies and creations of the mind. The four basic rights used to protect entities and individuals granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) include:

Patents – exclusive property ownership by a person or entity of an invention or innovation involving utility, design, or plant for a limited time.
Trademarks – exclusive ownership of a word, sign, or symbol that distinguishes recognition of a person or entity.
Copyrights – exclusive ownership of original works particularly in the artistic, literary, music, and architectural fields.
Trade Secrets – confidential practices, processes, designs, or information that is fundamental to how a business works.

Who Benefits From Intellectual Property Rights?

Anyone who has ever been granted a patent, trademark, or copyright has benefited from these rights. Without IP rights, the authors, or creators of particular designs, signs, symbols, and a broad selection of artistic works cannot profit or even claim ownership over their original creations. Businesses would also not be able to operate successfully without their share of trade secrets.

Attorneys that specialize in the field of Intellectual Property Rights can help facilitate your comprehension of every aspect of IP rights. From filing a claim for patent to ensuring your copyrights are valid, lawyers specializing in this particular field are adept at translating the law and all their intricacies and evolving nature of intellectual property rights.