An Introduction to Intellectual Property Rights

Intellectual property rights help protect certain creations, inventions, brands, designs and confidential business information.

This infographic provides a broad introduction to intellectual property rights and explains why they exist. It highlights several objectives of IP protection, including encouraging innovation and creativity, protecting the interests of creators and inventors and discouraging unauthorized copying or misuse.

It also introduces several forms of intellectual property, including:

• Patents

• Copyright

• Trademarks

• Geographical indications

• Industrial designs

• Trade secrets

The infographic was created from an Indian perspective and therefore also contains information about Indian IP law, the World Trade Organization and the TRIPS Agreement.

Because intellectual property systems vary between countries, some of the legal details shown apply specifically to India. The broader concepts, however, provide a useful introduction to the different ways intellectual property can protect innovation, creativity, brands and business information.

Source: Sage IAS Academy