U.S. intellectual property law, also known as patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret law, is a set of laws that regulate the creation, use, and enforcement of creative works, inventions, and other original expressions.
There are four main types of intellectual property rights in U.S. law:
Patent law protects new inventions, designs, and improvements by requiring that they be novel, non-obvious, and useful in some way. This is typically achieved through a process called patent search and examination.
Trademark law protects brand names, logos, and other distinctive signs that identify a business or product. The first-to-file rule applies in most cases, meaning the person who files for the trademark first gets priority over others.
Copyright law protects original literary and artistic works, including books, music, movies, and software. This means that the creator of a work has exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, and display it.
Trade secret law protects confidential information, such as recipes, business methods, and manufacturing processes. This type of law is often used in industries where sensitive information is shared among companies or individuals.