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Intellectual Property

Intellectual property (IP) refers to the legal rights to ideas, inventions and creations in the industrial, scientific, literary and artistic fields. It also covers symbols, names, images, designs and models used in business

The main types of Intellectual Property Include:

• Patents cover inventions or improvements to an existing invention.
• Trade-marks are words, symbols or designs used to distinguish a product or service.
• Copyrights provide protection for artistic, dramatic, musical and literary creations.
• Industrial designs are the visual features, such as shape, configuration and pattern, applied to a finished article.
• Integrated circuit topography is the three-dimensional electronic circuit designs used in technology.

The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO), a Special Operating Agency (SOA) associated with Industry Canada, is responsible for the administration and processing of the greater part of intellectual property in Canada.