Intellectual-Property

Intellectual-Property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names and images used in commerce. IP is protected in law by Patents, Copyright, and Trademarks, which enable people to earn recognition or financial benefit from what they invent or create. According to the World-Intellectual-Property-Organization, the IP system aims to foster an environment in which creativity and innovation can flourish. Detailed definitions are provided by the WIPO Official Guide.

Legal frameworks like the TRIPS-Agreement, established by the World-Trade-Organization, set international standards for IP protection. In the United-States, the United-States-Patent-and-Trademark-Office (USPTO) handles registration, while the United-States-Copyright-Office manages artistic protections. Further information on American statutes can be found on the USPTO website.

Other forms include Trade-Secrets, which protect confidential business information, and Industrial-Design-Rights. Historical milestones include the Paris-Convention and the Berne-Convention, which laid the groundwork for international cooperation. The WTO TRIPS portal offers resources on global enforcement.

• Digital-Rights-Management
• Patent-Law
• Fair-Use
• Open-Source-Licensing