Intellectual property is a legal term used to describe inventions, designs, and published materials that are protected by law from being copied. In the computer industry, intellectual property consists of hardware designs, software, and digital information (like that available on the Internet). Individuals and companies often protect their intellectual property by obtaining a patent or copyright for it. Materials that have been patented or copyrighted cannot be copied, manufactured, or sold by others without permission from the owner.

The legal protection of intellectual property has a long history. The United States Constitution established such protection as necessary "to promote the progress of science and the useful arts." Because they are based on many statutes and on many cases that have been heard in courts over many years, the patent and copyright laws are very complex in detail. In concept, however, they are...