A photographer is wondering why an advertising agency can copy her photographs without permission. An inventor is wondering why he cannot stop a foreign manufacturer from making his patented invention. A man named McDonald is wondering why he cannot open a restaurant called McDonald’s. And a woman who spends $600 on a software program is wondering why it’s illegal to share copies with her friends. Welcome to the world of intellectual property. Writers, inventors, and artists transform ideas into tangible property. When this property qualifies under law for protection it’s known as intellectual property (or IP)—for example, patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets. Creators of IP are granted certain rights. For example, the author of a book can prevent others from copying it; and the owner of a patented invention can prevent others from making, using, or selling the device.