Similar to the way the law recognizes ownership rights in material possessions such as cars and homes, it also grants rights in intangible property, such as the expression of an idea or an invention. Laws protect intellectual property in four distinct areas: patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret, each of which is explained in general, and in detail, at: http://www.indianapatentlawyer.com In 2005 the overall value of the "intellectual capital" of U.S. businesses—including copyrights, trademarks, patents, and related information assets—was estimated to account for a third of the value of U.S. companies, or about $5 trillion. Contact Roberts IP Law today to help protect your company's most important assets - its intellectual property.