IPRs

Intellectual property rights (IPRs) are legal rights that protect creations of the mind, including inventions, literary and artistic works, symbols, names, and designs. IPRs grant the creator or owner exclusive control over use, reproduction, and distribution for a limited period, with the aim of encouraging investment in innovation and creativity. They are established by national laws and supported by international agreements.

The main categories are patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, and industrial designs. Patents cover new, useful, and non-obvious inventions and typically last about 20 years. Copyright protects original works of authorship for the life of the author plus a number of years after death (varying by jurisdiction). Trademarks protect brands and identifiers used in commerce, potentially indefinitely with renewals. Trade secrets encompass confidential information that provides economic value from being secret, protected as long as secrecy is maintained. Industrial designs protect the visual design of objects for a limited term.

Internationally, IPRs are shaped by bodies such as the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). Key instruments include the TRIPS Agreement, the Paris Convention, the Berne Convention, and the Madrid Protocol, which set minimum standards and facilitate cross-border protection and registration.

Enforcement and access are pursued through civil, administrative, and criminal avenues in national laws. Rights have defined durations and may be subject to exceptions and limitations, such as fair use or fair dealing, compulsory licensing in certain public-interest scenarios, and research exemptions. Balancing incentives for creators with public access remains a central policy issue wherever IPRs intersect with health, education, or development.