The information contained in this LibGuide is meant to be an overview of the basic concepts and major issues faced in a higher education setting. It is not intended to be exhaustive of all aspects of U.S. copyright law, much less any applicable international laws, and does not replace legal advice from a licensed attorney.
Intellectual property is the term used for rights – established by law – that empower creators to restrict others from using their creative works. Copyright is one type of intellectual property, but there are many others. To help understand copyright, it is important to have a basic understanding of at least two other types of intellectual property rights and the laws that protect those rights.
Other types of intellectual property rights include trade secrets, publicity rights, and moral rights as a few examples.