Patent: A declaration issued by a government agency declaring someone the inventor of a new invention and having the privilege of stopping others from making, using or selling the claimed invention

Trademark: A word, symbol, or phrase used to identify a particular company’s product and differentiate it from other companies’ products.

Copyright: The right by law to be the entity which determines who may publish, copy and distribute a piece of writing, music, picture or other work of authorship.

Trade Secret: A formula, practice, process, design, instrument, pattern, or compilation of information used by a business to obtain an advantage over competitors within the same industry or profession.