Industrial property is a branch of intellectual property that protects inventions (patents), aesthetic creations for industrial use (designs), and distinctive signs (trademarks, appellations of origin) used in commercial activities. Its main objective is to secure the rights of inventors and companies in their innovations and creations, thereby promoting innovation and economic competitiveness.
The protection provided by industrial property mainly includes:
- Patents, which confer exclusive rights to new inventions that involve an inventive step and are capable of industrial application.
- Designs, which protect the aesthetic appearance or shape of a product.
- Trademarks, which protect any distinctive sign—whether verbal, graphic, or a combination—enabling companies to differentiate their products or services from those of competitors.
Industrial property allows inventors and companies to derive commercial benefits from their innovation investments. In exchange for public disclosure of the invention, the system grants a temporary or permanent monopoly on its exploitation, thereby encouraging technical progress and economic development. These rights are territorial and must be registered in each country or region where protection is sought.
Industrial property is governed by various international agreements, notably the TRIPS (Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights), and is administered in each country by national offices, such as the INPI (Institut national de la propriété industrielle) in France. Issues related to industrial property extend beyond protection against unauthorized use of inventions and creations: they also include access to technical information, which is essential for the development of new technologies and products.