Intellectual property

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Intellectual property (IP) is a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect, while intellectual property rights ("IPR") are rights empowering the creator or owner of an intellectual property asset to use it and to prevent others from doing so. There are many types of intellectual property, and some countries recognize more than others. The best-known types are patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets. The modern concept of intellectual property was developed in England in the 17th and 18th centuries. The term "intellectual property" began to be used in the 19th century, though it was not until the late 20th century that intellectual property became commonplace in most of the world's legal systems. Supporters of intellectual property laws often describe their main purpose as encouraging the creation of a wide variety of intellectual goods. To achieve this, the law gives people and businesses property rights to certain information and intellectual...

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