Intellectual property (IP) rights: In exchange for public registration and disclosure, innovators are granted exclusive control over the use of their innovations including the right to sell, license or otherwise generate income from their use. Includes patents, trademarks, copyrights. This is distinct from trade secrets : Items a company uses to maintain competitive advantage that are not specifically covered by IP registration and or which a company wishes protect by keeping private and confidential. Includes skills, competences, recipes, formulae, processes, cost structures. ...