Types of Intellectual Property
Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind: inventions, literary and artistic works, and symbols, names, images, and designs used in commerce.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO) IP Attaché Program works to improve intellectual property systems internationally for the benefit of U.S. stakeholders. IP in China The USPTO’s China Team, with experienced attorneys and staff based in China and Alexandria, Virginia, works to improve the protection and enforcement of U.S. intellectual property rights in China.
As a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and a party to the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual-Property Rights (TRIPS), the United States is obligated to provide trade secret protection. Article 39 paragraph 2 requires member nations to provide a means for protecting information that is secret, commercially valuable because it is secret, and subject to reasonable steps to keep it secret.
Overview of Trademark: Trademark is given a definition on this page, along with three other elements that are vital to intellectual property. Trademark Law Overview: A long and detailed read on everything involved with trademark law.