Intellectual Property

Intellectual Property is intangible property resulting from creations of the mind. It falls into 2 categories:

• industrial property, such as patents on new inventions, trademarks, designs and models, as well as service brands and protected designations of origin;
• copyright and related rights, such as music, literature, paintings and sculptures.

Intellectual Property rights (IPRs) allow owners - creators as inventors or artists, or any rightsholders - to decide how, when and where their creations are used and/or exploited.

The EU adopts legislation on Intellectual Property.

SEE ALSO

• Information society
• Intellectual Property on the European Commission's website
• Intellectual property rights on the Your Europe website
• Summary on Enforcing intellectual property rights: EU action plan
• Summary on Fighting violations of EU intellectual property rights in non-EU countries