intellectual property

noun

plural intellectual properties
: property (such as a concept, idea, invention, or work) that derives from the effort of the mind or intellect
… Netflix is home to several popular intellectual properties like "Squid Game", "Power Rangers", and the 1980s sci-fi horror hit "Stranger Things".Danni Button
also : a right or registration (such as a patent, trademark, trade secret, or copyright) relating to or protecting this property
In a number of cases, tech companies have infringed on the intellectual property of smaller rivals, who have sued in court. The Boston Herald

called also IP

Examples of intellectual property in a Sentence

Any song that you write is your intellectual property.
Recent Examples on the Web This latest series is in keeping with the new division’s mandate to produce English-language series and films sourced from Latin American intellectual properties. Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 11 Mar. 2024 Dan Croxall, a craft beer law expert and professor at the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law, told Fortune that, in intellectual property cases similar to this, a clever gag or added layer of brand recognition just isn’t worth the risk. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 10 Mar. 2024 Occasionally, estates and heirs have been criticized for tarnishing an author’s legacy by releasing inferior or unfinished works in order to squeeze the last bit of intellectual property out of a literary brand name. Alexandra Alter, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024 Creators will continue to seek help from the courts to stop their intellectual property from getting ripped off by AI training models. Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024 Promising research investments can stall due to, for example, restrictive data use agreements, intellectual property barriers, or uncertain regulatory terrain. Anna Chu, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 These standards, the European Commission argues, are crucial in negotiating trade and protecting intellectual property, allowing manufacturers to have appropriate compensation for products. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 29 Feb. 2024 Announced by both the coffee shop chain and Workers United on Tuesday, the breakthrough came during a mediation last week involving intellectual property rights and trademark litigation. Kate Gibson, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2024 The claim is widely disputed, yet Wright has wielded it in a series of lawsuits against developers and others in pursuit of establishing intellectual property rights over Bitcoin. Joel Khalili, WIRED, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'intellectual property.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1769, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of intellectual property was in 1769

Dictionary Entries Near intellectual property

Cite this Entry

“Intellectual property.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intellectual%20property. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

intellectual property

noun
: property (as an idea, method, or written work) that derives from the work of the mind

Legal Definition

intellectual property

see property

More from Merriam-Webster on intellectual property

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