What are the four types of intellectual property?
Intellectual property protection requires more than filing a patent or submitting a copyright; you have to train your staff to be diligent in IP protection. Intellectual property deals with creative ability. It refers to innovations, creations, or inventions from the mind. IP covers a wide range of artistic and literary works, such as images, designs, symbols, books, and so on.
The four types of intellectual property protection are as follows:
- Patents
- Copyrights
- Trademarks
- Trade secrets
Intellectual property is protected and enforced using legal instruments such as copyrights, trademarks, and patents. The object of IP is to ensure people earn the rightful recognition and control of their creative endeavors, in addition to reaping the financial benefits thereof.
In order to protect your intellectual property, you need to create ownership rights around your original ideas, especially if your invention has economic value. Broadly speaking, there are four types of IP protection, and the method you choose depends on the nature of the IP you’re seeking to protect.
Patents deal with inventions. Inventions typically constitute a product of imagination such as a method, composition, or process; an invention can also be a unique or novel device.
A patent grants the owner of an invention exclusive rights over their creation. These rights include the legal entitlement to decide whether their invention can be used by others and how it can be used. So, the patent owner can subsequently decide to license this right to others, with or without condition(s).
However, this right is contingent on the inventor providing full disclosure of the technical information of our secure collaboration functionality to the patent office.
Three types of patents exist: design, utility, and plant patents. The patent is granted to new and distinctive plants, especially to prevent key characteristics from being used, copied, or sold by others. U.S. patents are granted for 20 years. However, design patents have a 15-year term. The duration is calculated from the earliest effective nonprovisional date the patent was filed in the United States. But this date can be extended to take into account delays resulting from the patent office examining the application.
This gives the patent owner, during this period, the right to prevent other people from using or taking advantage of an idea without the owner’s express permission.
Copyright is a form of IP protection concerned with safeguarding artistic and creative expressions that are original works of authorship. These include books, blogs, paintings, photographs, movies, musical compositions, plays, computer programs, and so on. In a nutshell, copyright protects any work that falls under musical, dramatic, literal, and artistic endeavors.
However, there is an important distinction to note regarding copyright: It protects creative expressions, but never ideas. This means methods, concepts, or systems can’t be copyrighted. Hence, a food recipe cannot be copyrighted, unless it’s accompanied by a co.
What do you do in intellectual property law?
One common task IP lawyers do is preparing documents needed to file for patents or trademarks, and then working with patent and trademark offices in the U.S. and around the world to attain those patents and trademarks.
How much do top intellectual property lawyers make?
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Top Earners
$274,359
$22,863
75th Percentile
$252,600
$21,050
Average
$196,696
$16,391
25th Percentile
$154,400
$12,866
Who deals with intellectual property?
We operate and maintain a clear and accessible intellectual property system in the UK, which encourages innovation and helps the economy and society to benefit from knowledge and ideas. We help people get the right type of protection for their creation or invention.
The Intellectual Property Office became the operating name of The Patent Office on 2 April 2007. The Patent Office was set up in 1852 to grant patents, although the origins of the patent system date back a further 400 years.
We’re now a team of approximately 1600, with offices in Newport and London. The team is made up of specialists in rights-granting, IT, finance, and HR.
We have ISO certification for the following:
- The quality policies are available on request.
In addition, we also hold Investor in People and Customer Excellence awards for our training and development of staff and commitment to customer service respectively.
We’re responsible for:
- Our strategy and Intellectual Property Office Corporate Plan 2024 to 2025 set out how we help people and businesses grow the UK economy by providing an IP system that encourages investment in creativity and innovation. And they set out the framework of how we will deliver this mission, through:
Read about the types of information we routinely publish in our Publication scheme. Find out about our commitment to Welsh language scheme. Our Personal information charter explains how we treat your personal information.
How much does a copyright lawyer earn in the US?
Annual Salary
Hourly Wage
Top Earners
$143,318
$68
75th Percentile
$112,700
$54
Average
$110,089
$53
25th Percentile
$86,400
$42
What lawyer makes the most money?
Interested in a high-paying legal career? Learn about the highest-paid types of lawyers, their roles, and how our programs can help you achieve your career goals.
In the wide range of legal professions, certain specializations stand out for their substantial financial rewards. The Colleges of Law is committed to training dedicated, ethical, and hardworking lawyers, skills required for success in these and other careers in law.
The field of law is diverse, offering a multitude of specializations, each with its unique challenges and rewards. While all legal fields hold the potential for financial success and personal fulfillment, there are certain areas where lawyers, on average, tend to see higher earnings per year.
As of 2024, the top five highest paid types of lawyers are:
1. Patent attorneys |
2. IP attorneys |
This variation in earnings is influenced by factors such as specialization, geographic location, the complexity of the legal field, and the demand for specialized expertise. Some areas of law have emerged as particularly lucrative due to their complexity, the high stakes involved, or the specialized knowledge required.
Patent attorneys are involved in protecting the intellectual property rights of inventions. Their work spans drafting and filing patent applications, advising on patent law, and representing clients in patent litigation. This field is ideal for those who are fascinated by law and technology, offering an exciting blend of innovation and legal expertise.
Patent attorneys will find the Technology Professional Certificate program from The Colleges of Law highly beneficial. This program offers deep insights into areas like data security and blockchain technology, which are increasingly relevant in the rapidly evolving field of patent law.
Patent attorneys are the highest-paid type of lawyers on average, they earn an annual income of around $185,000, According to Indeed. Although the salary range varies on a number of factors, the average patent attorney’s salary range falls between $110,000 and $310,000 in the US.
IP attorneys play an important role in protecting rights related to artistic and inventive creations. Their responsibilities include negotiating deals, drafting licensing agreements, and representing clients in IP disputes. As the digital and creative landscapes continue to expand, IP attorneys find themselves in a constantly evolving and high-demand field.
IP attorneys will find our Entrepreneurship Professional Certificate to be invaluable. The program focuses on topics like emerging technology and the law, and building legal applications is crucial for IP attorneys working with startups and innovative companies. This certificate offers IP attorneys additional expertise to advise clients on the legal intricacies of launching and growing technology-driven businesses.
According to Salary.com IP attorneys are among the highest-paid types of lawyers, averaging around $167,000 a year. An IP attorney’s salary normally ranges from around $152,000.