Terminology

Copyright
Provides protection for literary, artistic, dramatic or musical works (including computer programs), and three other subject matter known as: performance, sound recording, and communication signal.
Industrial design
The visual features of shape, configuration, pattern or ornament (or any combination of these features), applied to a finished article of manufacture.
Intellectual property
A form of creative endeavour that can be protected through a patent, trade-mark, copyright, industrial design or integrated circuit topography.
Patent
A government grant giving the right to exclude others from making, using or selling an invention. A Canadian patent applies within Canada for 20 years from the date of filing of a patent application. The patent application is available to the public 18 months after filing.
Patent Agent
A person whose name is entered on the registered of patent agents maintained by the Canadian Patent Office and who is entitled to represent applicants in the presentation and prosecution of applications for patents or in other business before the Canadian Patent Office. This person is a resident of Canada who has demonstrated a good knowledge of Canadian patent law and practice by passing the qualifying examination for patent agents relating to patent law and practice.
Patent Examiner
An official of the Canadian Patent Office with technical expertise charged with the task of classifying a patent or an application, or for determining whether a patent application fullfils the requirements for a grant of patent.
Trade secret
Information about a product or process kept secret from competitors.
Trade-Mark
A word, symbol or design (or any combination of these features) used to distinguish the wares and services of one person or organization from those of others in the marketplace and to indicate to the public that this person or organization is responsible for the quality of the wares or services used in association with the trade-mark.
Trade-Mark Agent
A person whose name appears on the list of trade-mark agents maintained by the Registrar of Canadian Trade-Marks and who is entitled to represent applicants in the presentation and prosecution of applications for the registration of a trade-mark or in other business before the Canadian Trade-marks Office.