What is Intellectual Property?
Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary and artistic works, and symbols, names, and images used in commerce. It encourages innovation, creativity, and economic growth.
Copyright
Copyright refers to exclusive rights granted to the creator of an original work to reproduce, distribute, and display the work. Types of copyright include:
- Literary works (books, articles, etc.)
- Musical works (songs, compositions, etc.)
- Artistic works (paintings, sculptures, etc.)
- Cinematographic works (movies, videos, etc.)
Fair Use
Fair use means using someone else’s work without permission, but in a way that is considered fair and legal. Situations of fair use include:
- Criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research.
- Parody or satire.
- Using a small portion of the work.
- Using the work for non-commercial purposes.
Examples include quoting a book in a review, using an image in a presentation for educational purposes, or parodying a song.
Copyright Infringement
Copyright infringement includes:
- Copying someone else’s work without permission.
- Distributing someone else’s work without permission.
- Displaying someone else’s work without permission.
- Creating derivative works without permission.
- Using someone else’s work for commercial purposes without permission.
Examples include copying a movie without permission, distributing someone else’s software without permission, or using someone else’s logo without permission.
