What is Intellectual property?
Intellectual property Definition: Intangible assets (notably includes software and data).
Understanding Intellectual property
Intangible assets encompass non-physical resources that hold significant value, with software and data being prime examples. Intellectual property (IP) falls under this category and represents creations of the mind that receive legal protection. This includes not only software and data but also inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, brand symbols, names, and images. Legal safeguards—such as patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets—are in place to protect these creations.
Legal frameworks like the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and standards such as ISO 27001 help enforce these protections by outlining clear guidelines. To defend their intellectual property, organizations deploy various measures: they might use access restrictions, digital rights management (DRM) systems, legal agreements such as non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), licensing strategies, watermarking, and even continuous monitoring for unauthorized activity. For example, a software company could protect its assets through techniques like code obfuscation, strict enforcement of software licenses, and employee confidentiality agreements, all aimed at preventing unauthorized use or distribution.
Related terms in this area include Copyright, Patent, Trademark, Trade Secret, Digital Rights Management, Non-disclosure Agreement, and Licensing.