What is Intellectual Property?
I.P.R.O.P.E.R.S. are unique creative expressions that give a creator exclusive rights to their work, such as inventions, designs, literature, and sounds.
- Inventions: Devices or processes for making or using something.
- Designs: The visual appearance of something, such as a logo or an image.
- Literature: Written or printed expressions of ideas, opinions, or facts.
- Sounds and music: Expressions of sound in any medium, including musical compositions.
- Plants: Variations of living organisms that reproduce by seeds, spores, or vegetative means.
I.P.R.O.P.E.R.S. come in different categories, including patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret.
- Patent: A tool used to make or manufacture something new, unique, and useful.
- Trademark: A symbol, logo, or word that identifies a product or service.
- Copyright: The right to create, reproduce, and distribute a work for a limited time.
- Trade Secret: Information or techniques that are not publicly known and can be used for personal or business purposes.
I.P.R.O.P.E.R.S. have specific meanings under U.S. law, including the "first to invent" rule and the "common-law" concept of novelty.
- First to Invent: The person who creates an invention first is entitled to a patent.
- No Novelty: If two or more people have created similar inventions independently, it may not be eligible for a patent.
- Due Process: A fair and reasonable process by which a person can protect their I.P.R.O.P.E.R.S. in court.