Intellectual Property

Intellectual Property is a general term referring to a variety of non-tangible, but often very valuable, property. Intellectual property includes patents, trade-marks, copyright, industrial designs, trade secrets, plant breeders’ rights, and integrated circuit topographies.

Intellectual property rights often overlap and a single product can be "covered" by several types of intellectual property protection.

For example, a new product may be protected by a patent, its name could be protected by a trademark and the software that makes it work can be protected by copyright.