Intellectual property includes patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets.

PATENTS – Protect new and non-obvious innovation, including how something is used, made, the structure, and function. Design patents protect how an invention looks.

Examples: mechanical inventions, electrical innovations, equipment, processes, software, and other improvements

TRADEMARKS – Used to identify a single source of goods and services, including a word, phrase, or logo.

Examples: FLAT CAT (Winston Products); SURESTATE (Worthington Industries); ENCHANTED DIAMOND (Verragio, Ltd.); AEG LIVE (Anschutz Entertainment Group)

COPYRIGHTS – Protect an original work of authorship as soon as it is created (fixed on a tangible form of expression). It prevents others from copying, distributing, creating derivative works, public display, public performance, and digital transmission of the copyrighted work.

Examples: software code, website content, images, videos, and music

TRADE SECRETS – Can be anything that is kept secret and derives a benefit to the holder if it is kept secret.

Examples: a special manufacturing process or a formula for a composition