🧠 What is Intellectual Property (IP)?
Intellectual property refers to creations of the mind.
Unlike physical property (like a house or a chair), IP is intangible but still has value and legal protection.
👉 Think of it as: ideas, creations, identity, and knowledge that can be owned
⚖️ The 5 Main Areas of Intellectual Property Law
| Category | What it Protects | Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Patent | Function / invention | Works |
| Trademark | Brand identity | Name |
| Copyright | Creative expression | Content |
| Trade Secret | Confidential info | Secret |
| Right of Publicity | Personal identity | Person |
1. © Copyright Law
Protects creative work expression
Must be:
- Original work of authorship
- Fixed in a tangible form/ physical form
Examples:
- Books, music, films
- Photography, paintings
- Software code
- Sculpture
Does NOT protect
- Ideas inside work eg movie script
- Facts
- Methods of operation
- Data in a database but database as whole is protected
Owner:
- Creator (author, artist, programmer)
- Employer (if created in course of employment)
Duration:
- Life of author + 70 years (in most jurisdictions)
Public Domain Works:
Not protected by copyright and can be used freely by anyone
- After copyright expires, work enters public domain and can be used freely by anyone
- A small quantity of work from original work eg. quote from a book
Copyright Infringement
Infringement occurs when someone uses copyrighted work without permission
- Work must be registered to sue for infringement
You need to prove:
- Someone have access to your work
- Substantial similarity between your work and infringing work
2. ™️ Trademark Law
Protects brand identity
“How something is recognized”
- Covers:
- Names (company/product)
- Logos
- Slogans
- Colors (in some cases)
Examples:
- Brand names like Nike
- Logos like Apple
- Taglines
3. 📜 Patent Law
Protects inventions and functional ideas
“How something works”
Must be:
- Novel (new)
- Useful
- Non-obvious
Examples:
- Machines (e.g., cotton gin)
- Pharmaceuticals
- Software algorithms (in some jurisdictions)
4. 🔐 Trade Secret Law
Protects valuable confidential information
- Requirements:
- Must be secret
- Must have economic value
- Must be actively protected
“What is kept secret”
Examples:
- Recipes (e.g., Coca-Cola formula)
- Algorithms
- Business processes
5. 🎭 Right of Publicity
Protects a person’s:
- Name
- Image
- Voice
- Persona
“Who someone is” Common in:
- Advertising
- Media
- Influencer/celebrity branding