Understanding Your Intellectual Property

Before you even think about protecting your brilliant idea, you need to understand what exactly constitutes intellectual property (IP). This encompasses a broad range of creations of the mind, including inventions (patents), literary and artistic works (copyright), and brand names and logos (trademarks). Knowing which category your idea falls into is the first crucial step. Is it a novel invention with a practical application? Then you’re likely looking at a patent. Is it a creative work like a software program, a design, a piece of music, or a written work? Copyright is your friend. If it’s