intellectual property

American  

noun

1. Law. property that results from original creative thought, as patents, copyright material, and trademarks.

2. an individual product of original creative thought.

   Microsoft’s Halo franchise is one of the most profitable intellectual properties in the video game industry.

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intellectual property British  

noun

1. an intangible asset, such as a copyright or patent

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Etymology

Origin of intellectual property

An Americanism dating back to 1840–45

Example Sentences

Dr Amy Thomas, a lecturer in intellectual property and information law at the University of Glasgow, said identifying someone was not the same as proving copyright infringement.

From BBC • May 23, 2026

IBM and the Commerce Department each will contribute $1 billion of cash into Anderon, with IBM providing “significant intellectual property, assets, and a skilled workforce.”

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

Mattel also has valuable intellectual property that could interest large media companies, Southeastern said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026

He laid out three main priorities in explaining his long-term view for the company: investing in intellectual property, reaching more consumers in different ways around the world and using technology to increase monetization.

From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026

It did not occur to Browne that the notion of intellectual property owed as much to Columbus as to the printing press.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton