Introduction

Today over 170 countries grant some type of intellectual property protection (patent, design, trademark, copyright)

Intellectual property law is designed to safeguard creators and other producers of intellectual goods and services by granting them certain time-limited rights to control the use made of those productions. These rights are established by statute or law by the countries that grant intellectual property protection. The rules and procedures for each country can and do differ.

It should be emphasized patent rights enforcement is up to the owner. The owner must be his own policeman. This is also true in the United States.

Intellectual property searching of any kind can have legal implications. Our best advice is to contact a competent attorney who specializes in intellectual property when you are ready to file for protection in any country--including the United States.

This tutorial was brought to you by McKinney Engineering Library, The General Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin. Contact englib@lib.utexas.edu with comments.