Introducing the concept of intellectual property

A) Intellectual assets With the passage of time and the change in the source of wealth creation, monetary assets (money, credit, loans, etc.) and physical assets (land, buildings, goods, inventory, etc.) are no longer considered only human assets, but intellectual assets, which have more value and credibility, have been considered as one of the types of human assets, especially in the knowledge-based economy. Intellectual assets are defined as a type of non-physical asset (intangible capital), such as technical knowledge, business information banks, ideas, industrial designs, etc. Hence, the thought and idea that exists in the mind of a researcher is valuable and can have monetary value for the person.

b) Intellectual Property (IP) 

Anything that originates from human thought, creativity, and initiative (such as inventions, trademarks, designs, literary works, etc.) and has economic value and tradability is known as intellectual property or intellectual property, or IP for short. These works are protected by intellectual property laws, and their creators are granted a series of material rights limited to time and permanent intellectual rights. Intellectual property, as one of the important infrastructures of technological development, which can guarantee the economic and technological success of researchers and knowledge-based companies, has received special attention in the world for more than a century.

C) Types of intellectual property according to WIPO classification 

1- Industrial property

 • Patents

 • Trademarks 

• Industrial designs

 • Geographical indications

2- Copyright 

• Literary works (such as novels, poems, and plays) 

• Artistic works (such as maps, paintings, photographs, and sculptures)

 • Architectural designs

 • Films and music

♦ It should be noted that each of the above has separate intellectual property registration processes with its own rules and regulations.