What is Intellectual Property?

Ideas, designs, creativity - these are key to a prosperous and thriving society. They help us work better, to make finer products and to compete more effectively in world trade. A brisk and orderly exchange of ideas is as important to our economy as the flow of money or goods and services.

To promote this exchange, while protecting owners' rights, the Government of Canada considers certain kinds of creative endeavours "intellectual property." You can receive legal recognition for these endeavours in much the same way as you receive title to a piece of land. In addition, the records and the documents that protect intellectual property owners' rights contain valuable information. Much of it is available to the public and may be useful to you in many ways.