Intellectual Property is generally used to cover the rights relating to a wide array of mental exercises. One well-know field is the area of copy-rights - relating to ownership of something in writing -, or the area of trademarks, utility models, designs, or know-how.

The most prominent IP rights are "patents", which relate to an "invention". Essentially this means, that an idea solves a technical problem in a new and non-obvious manner, sufficiently concrete for being reduced to practice in industrial applications. Technical refers to the fact, that it requires human interaction (currently a subject for public dispute in the field of bio-genetics).

Patents grant the owner the right of preventing others from free copying of the invention - but this is not a unilateral right. It is an essential element, that the invention is published, so as to allow others to ask for a license - but also to allow them to build on the invention. And, of course, a patent right is not for free - depending on the regional extension where, and the time for which it is maintained, six-digit € numbers are not uncommon.

Thus, it is important to strategically decide where to spend money in this field.