Types of intellectual property
Do you know what the difference is between a patent and an industrial design, how to protect your photo with a copyright, or why you would want to obtain a protected designation of origin? Discover everything you ever wanted to know about IP rights.
Patents
A patent is an exclusive right granted for an invention. Generally speaking, a patent provides the patent owner with the right to decide how - or whether - the invention can be used by others. In exchange for this right, the patent owner makes technical information about the invention publicly available in the published patent document.
Copyright
Copyright is a legal term used to describe the rights that creators have over their literary and artistic works. Works covered by copyright range from books, music, paintings, sculpture and films, to computer programs, databases, advertisements, maps and technical drawings.
Trademarks
A trademark is a sign capable of distinguishing the goods or services of one enterprise from those of other enterprises. Trademarks date back to ancient times when artisans used to put their signature or "mark" on their products.
Industrial designs
An industrial design constitutes the ornamental or aesthetic aspect of an article. A design may consist of three-dimensional features, such as the shape or surface of an article, or of two-dimensional features, such as patterns, lines or color.
Geographical indications
Geographical indications and appellations of origin are signs used on goods that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities, a reputation or characteristics that are essentially attributable to that place of origin. Most commonly, a geographical indication includes the name of the place of origin of the goods.
Trade secrets
Trade secrets are IP rights on confidential information which may be sold or licensed. The unauthorized acquisition, use or disclosure of such secret information in a manner contrary to honest commercial practices by others is regarded as an unfair practice and a violation of the trade secret protection.
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Resources and tools for women inventors, creators and entrepreneurs
Understanding intellectual property can often be complex. On the occasion of this year’s World Intellectual Property Day, we encourage you to embrace the opportunity to learn more about intellectual property (IP) rights and the role they play in achieving your goals in the field of innovation and creativity.
WIPO works hand-in-hand with Member States and stakeholders to support greater participation of women in the IP system. The following resources, information videos, seminars and workshops will offer useful insights about the IP ecosystem and how women inventors, creators and entrepreneurs can benefit from it to achieve their goals and thereby help accelerate innovation and creativity.'
Inventor Assistance Program
The Inventor Assistance Program (IAP) supports inventors and small businesses with limited resources transform their innovation into commercial assets. The IAP matches selected beneficiaries with a volunteer patent attorney or agent to help them navigate the patent system at no cost. This program is operating in Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Morocco, Peru, the Philippines and South Africa.
WIPO Academy: Access to courses in all fields of IP
The WIPO Academy offers a wide portfolio of training courses on intellectual property (IP) education and skills-building essential to innovation and creativity. The Academy’s training combines face-to-face and Distance Learning (DL) courses that IP experts teach to provide an in-depth view of the fundamentals of IP law.
IP Guides for business
The Intellectual Property (IP) guides for Business are designed to illustrate how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can use the IP system and benefit from IP rights. These publications will help turn business ambitions into reality by helping SMEs to make informed decisions about protecting their IP.