Types of intellectual property
Answer in brief
Patents protect inventions, trademarks protect brands, copyrights protect creative expression, and trade secrets protect confidential business information.
Compared
| Right | Protects | How you get it | How long |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utility patent | Inventions: processes, machines, compositions | USPTO examination | Generally 20 years from filing, with maintenance fees |
| Design patent | Ornamental design of an article | USPTO examination | 15 years from grant (filed on or after May 13, 2015) |
| Trademark | Brand names, logos, slogans | Use in commerce; USPTO registration adds rights | As long as the mark is used and maintained |
| Copyright | Original works of authorship | Automatic on creation; registration enables suit | Life of the author plus 70 years (most works) |
| Trade secret | Valuable confidential information | Keeping it secret | As long as it stays secret |
One product, several rights
A new app might carry a patent on its method, copyright in its code, a trademark on its name, and trade secrets in its back-end data.
Sources for this entry
- USPTO — Trademark, patent, or copyright USPTO
The USPTO's explanation of how the three main types of intellectual property differ. - USPTO — Managing a patent USPTO
A utility patent's term is generally 20 years from the earliest filing date, subject to maintenance fees; it grants only the right to exclude. - U.S. Copyright Office — How long does copyright protection last? U.S. Copyright Office
Works created on or after January 1, 1978: life of the author plus 70 years; works made for hire: 95 years from publication or 120 from creation, whichever expires first.
Practical guidance is original editorial content. Company-published figures are the company's own claims and are labeled as such.
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How the related websites connect
This is one of 19 coordinated Wysebridge references. The related sites answer neighboring questions and share the same publisher entity, Wysebridge. They are not independent endorsements.
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Best IP Law. “Types of intellectual property.” Wysebridge Reference. Content reviewed 9 November 2026.
https://bestiplaw.com/types-of-intellectual-property/