Ownership signifies rights to some degree of exclusive use which owners exercise in various ways, such as preventing distribution of trade secrets and licensing others to make limited use of software. Ownership of information is established under laws which vary from country to country but generally depend upon establishment of the act of creation of the information. Thus authors of books, composers of music, inventors of devices, and creators of software gain intellectual property rights to their works. When the creation was done in the course of work for an employer, then the employer will often gain ownership. When creation makes substantial use of another's facilities or services, then the ownership might have to be shared.
Prior understandings are important.
Owners of intellectual property can establish their rights under law by having these formally recognized by copyright, trademark or patent. Each confers specific protections, discussed elsewhere in this site. Even when no commerical gain is sought or intended, intellectual property is protected from copying, distribution, or use without the permission of its owner. This profit from intellectual property will result in various ways. The semiconductor manufacturers have numerous Trade Secrets concerning how they achieve high circuit densities and high yields in manufacturing.