A trademark is a member of a family of what are called 'intellectual property rights'. Other members of the family include patents, copyright, industrial designs, integrated circuit topography, plant breeder's rights and confidential information. A registered patent protects a mechanical, chemical, biological or material invention such as a new engine or drug. A copyright protects the expression of ideas in fixed forms such as music, literature, artistic works and software. Copyright lasts for the life of the author plus 50 years and prevents unauthorized copying.
Industrial designs protect the visual features of an object, which have no function.
Shapes of kitchen appliances and furniture are often protected by registered industrial designs that endure for 10 years. A registered integrated circuit topography protects the three-dimensional structure of an integrated circuit and a registered plant breeders' right protects a new variety of plant. Finally, although they cannot be registered, the law protects valuable confidential information and trade secrets. Persons breaching obligations of confidence can be sued. There are four different types of trademarks.