Intellectual Property, Indigenous People and Their Knowledge

Intellectual property (IP) comprises inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, symbols, names and images used in commerce, protected by patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets. Patents grant exclusive rights over new inventions and processes for a limited period, while copyrights give authors control over literary, artistic, and musical works' reproduction and distribution. Trademarks protect symbols, names, and logos distinguishing goods and services, while trade secrets safeguard confidential business information, like formulas or processes, ascertaining competitive advantage. IP laws incentivize innovation and creativity by enabling creators to profit from their inventions and works, fostering economic growth and cultural progress globally through investments in research and development. This book provides comprehensive insights into the field of intellectual property. While understanding the long-term perspectives of the topics, the book makes an effort in highlighting their impact as a modern tool for the growth of the discipline. Through this book, we attempt to further enlighten the readers about the new concepts in this field.