Intellectual property is the body of law (statutes and court opinions) that protects a person’s original works. There are generally four types of intellectual property: (1) patents; (2) copyrights; (3) trademarks; and (4) trade secrets. For example, patent law protects the works of people who create new utilities for chemicals and machines (utility patents), new designs (design patents), and new plant varieties (plant patents). Copyright law protects new works of authorship such as books, movie scripts, paintings, poetry, and songs. Trademark law protects the names and identifying marks (logos) of products and companies. And trade secrets are pieces of information that have economic value from not being generally known to the public or discoverable by lawful means, and that the owner strives to keep secret.

In Washington State, intellectual property laws are designed to protect creators and innovators by ensuring they have exclusive rights to their creations and inventions. Patents, governed by federal law, protect inventors of new utilities, designs, and plant varieties, granting them exclusive rights to make, use, and sell their inventions for a certain period. Copyrights, also under federal jurisdiction, safeguard original works of authorship, including literature, music, and art, by preventing unauthorized reproduction or distribution. Trademarks, protected at both the federal and state level, secure the distinctive names, logos, and symbols that identify goods and services, helping consumers distinguish between different brands. Lastly, trade secrets, which can be protected under both Washington State law (such as the Washington Uniform Trade Secrets Act) and federal law (the Defend Trade Secrets Act), encompass confidential business information that provides a competitive edge, provided that reasonable steps are taken to maintain its secrecy. An attorney specializing in intellectual property can provide guidance on how to secure and enforce these rights in Washington State.