Intellectual property (IP) refers to any creation (tangible or intangible), including inventions, designs, symbols, images or names. IP is owned and protected by a single entity, including an individual or company, and prevents the use or distribution of the creation.
Types of Intellectual Property
The most common types of IP are listed below.
Patents
Trademarks
Franchises
Copyrights
Understanding Intellectual Property Rights
Intellectual property rights (IPR) are designed to protect any creation, whether devised by an individual or company. Typically, IPR extends to a specific period of time. During this time, the individual or company reserves full ownership of the creation.