When most people think of "property," they imagine something tangible, such as real estate, jewelry, or computers. But intellectual property confers legal rights in intangible form. The three primary types of intellectual property are copyrights, trademarks, and patents. Each of these protect very different types of work, and it is important to learn the differences between them before determining whether you might qualify for protection.
Learn how patents, copyrights, and trademarks serve different purposes.
Food recipes require creativity. But you might be surprised at how little protection they receive under American intellectual property law.
At some point in your entertainment career, you may find yourself sitting in an attorney’s waiting room preparing to hire someone who charges more per hour than you earn earn in one night.
If you need an attorney to help protect your invention, this is the place to start.
Browse profiles of attorneys working in the larger intellectual property field.
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At Nolo, we prioritize quality and transparency because we know how important reliable legal information is to our readers. Our information is meticulously researched, regularly updated, and written in plain English by our experienced writers and editors. Learn more about our editorial standards.