What are intellectual property rights designed to protect?

Intellectual property rights are established to safeguard the creations that stem from human intellect, including inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, symbols, names, and images used in commerce. The essence of these rights is to provide creators with protection over their original works, enabling them to control the use of their ideas, prevent unauthorized exploitation, and receive recognition or financial benefits from their inventions or creations.

When creators have these rights, they can stimulate innovation and creativity by ensuring that their efforts are not easily copied or exploited by others without permission. This protection extends to various domains, including patents for inventions, copyrights for artistic works, trademarks for brand identifiers, and trade secrets for proprietary business information. Understanding these aspects of intellectual property is crucial for professionals in all fields, including architecture, where design and innovation are integral components of practice.