Intellectual property is imagination made real.
It is an asset just like your home, your car, or your bank account. Just like other kinds of property, intellectual property needs to be protected from theft and misuse. The look of an athletic shoe, a bicycle helmet, and the Star Wars characters are all protected by design patents . Hybrid tea roses, Silver Queen corn, Better Boy tomatoes are all types of plant patents. Trademarks, unlike patents, can be renewed forever as long as they are being used in business.