Definition

Intellectual property is the umbrella term for all exclusive rights to intangible creations. There are various forms of protection and intellectual property rights, which are divided into:

Intellectual property law

protects new inventions or processes of a technical nature that involve an inventive step and are capable of industrial application

Term of validity: 20 years.

Protects technical, patentable inventions, but not technical or chemical processes. A "small patent" for technical innovations. It is granted more quickly, but has a shorter term.

Term of validity: maximum 10 years

protects trade marks, company names, logos or product names to prevent confusion in commercial dealings.

Term of validity: maximum 10 years (renewable indefinitely)

protects the shape, design and appearance of products.

Term of validity: 25 years

Copyright

protects personal intellectual creations in the fields of literature, science and art (e.g. texts, music, software, photographs). This right arises automatically upon the creation of the work; registration in an official register is not required. 

Term of protection: 70 years after the death of the author (Germany). This term of protection applies to personal intellectual creations (works of literature, science and art) and ends on 31 December of the 70th year following the year of death. After that, the work enters the public domain.