Intellectual Property Law
Intellectual property (IP) law is a general category of law that deals with the acquisition and enforcement of patents, trademarks, and copyrights, and one that has seen tremendous growth in the past decade. Intellectual property encompasses the exclusive rights to a registered idea, product, or name, and includes anything from words and symbols to internet domain names. Intellectual property law not only deals with unauthorized use of property and plagiarism, but also with the protection of image and personality through use of registered property.
IP law can traditionally be broken down into three subdivisions: patent, copyright, and trademark. While patent law focuses on inventions and technology, trademark law is designed to defend an individual's or a company's investment in any distinguishing name, symbol, or device. Copyright law deals with the protection of literary, artistic, and musical works.
