The unfamiliarity of the concept of intellectual property to many of us belies its universality. From the chairs we sit on to the advertisements blaring on the radio to the VCDs being sold by street vendors, intellectual property pervades our very existence. Little do we know that this seemingly foreign idea is in fact intimately linked to our lives. In simple terms, intellectual property encompasses all creations of the human mind: concrete inventions, abstract notions, unique designs, and practically everything under the sun. Laws and ordinances regarding intellectual property give and protect the rights of inventors and creators in myriad fields. This security, the assurance of recognition from the community, as well as material rewards, act as inspiration for future generations and encourage greater creativity, all of which propel the world towards further scientific and technological progress. .
As mentioned earlier, even mundane objects such as furniture and clothes, as well as songs, books, and advertisements are considered intellectual property. Different pieces of furniture may have been designed by different artists and each is thus deemed to be in the ownership of its creator. Songs belong to their composers, books are owned by their authors, and so on. Once the creators have been given the rights of ownership, only they can grant permission for their creation to be used, displayed, or reproduced. This kind of procedure ensures protection from commercial exploitation but only for a limited time. Even then, intellectual property rights are often violated despite numerous efforts made by governments and organizations all over the world. Issues like plagiarism and piracy have been plaguing the world for decades, or possibly even centuries. However, these matters have proven to be difficult to resolve because of the disparity between the viewpoints of developed and developing countries.
