Intellectual Property

Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the intellect for which a monopoly is assigned to designated owners by law.  Intellectual property rights are the rights granted to the creators of IP, and include trademarks, copyright, patents, industrial design rights, and in some jurisdictions trade secrets. Artistic works including music and literature, as well as discoveries, inventions, words, phrases, symbols, and designs can all be protected as intellectual property.