Intellectual Property: Concepts, Origins & Categories

What Is Intellectual Property?

Intellectual property (IP) is a set of guidelines designed to provide legal protection to human creations, guaranteeing the author (individual or legal entity) the right to use them to generate profit. Patents, trademarks, industrial design, geographical indication and copyright are examples of intellectual property enforcement tools.

Adopted by several countries, the concept recognizes the primacy of creators over their works, providing for sanctions for those who use them without the express authorization of those who produced and registered them. The idea of intellectual property emerged after the Middle Ages, when ways to facilitate the reproduction of texts were invented, such as the Gutenberg press. Works of an intellectual nature, whether with industrial, scientific, literary or artistic purposes, are protected by intellectual property.

What Does Intellectual Property Protect?

To get an idea of the scope of this concept, it is worth knowing the definition given by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The entity states that intellectual property is the sum of rights relating to:

• Literary, artistic and scientific works

• Interpretations by performing artists

• Executions of performing artists

• Phonograms and broadcasting emissions

• Inventions in all domains of human activity

• Scientific discoveries

• Industrial designs and models

• Industrial, commercial and service brands

• Commercial firms and commercial names

• Protection against unfair competition and all other rights inherent to intellectual activity in the industrial, scientific, literary and artistic domains.

WIPO separates protected works into two distinct categories: industrial property and copyright

COPYRIGHT: Protects artistic, literary and scientific creations, such as music, books, films, photographs and software. Copyright grants creators control over the use and distribution of their works, as well as the right to be recognized as authors.

INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY: Covers patents, trademarks, industrial designs and geographical indications. These rights protect inventions, distinctive signs and designs that give originality to products and services, contributing to competition and economic development.