How Should We Define Intellectual Property?

To protect the intellectual property of your business, you must understand what is valuable for your business. To do this, you should be able to define intellectual property itself.

When asked to define intellectual property, most CSOs actually can not, said Scott Nelson, former vice president of security AOL Time Warner. "If you ask 10 companies to define what intellectual property is, the definition is obtained, but also have 10 different ideas about what is important to them," says Nelson. "It's amazing, nobody knows for sure science."

According to the World Intellectual Property Organization, IP is defined as the creations of the mind: inventions, literary and artistic works, symbols, names, images and designs used in commerce. At a more granular level, IP includes, but is not limited to proprietary formulas and ideas, inventions (products and processes), industrial designs and geographical indications as well as literary and artistic works such as novels, movies, music designs, architecture and web pages.

In legal terms, IP is generally divided into four categories. Patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets (see "I have a secret", page 40) Intellectual Property stored in one of these categories with provincial and federal agencies is protected by law, and if raped or otherwise abused the authors can be processed.

But IP can also be somewhat broader and less tangible, as an idea. If the head of its R & D has a eureka moment during your morning shower, then apply your new idea at work is also define intellectual property.