ABSTRACT
Intellectual property covers industrial property including author’s rights over written material, novel processes, products, computer programs, and integrated circuits. One of the main goals of intellectual property is to promote progress of technology and industry, by granting a temporary monopoly for innovation through patents. Industrial property is protected through patents covering inventions,
utility models, registration of industrial designs, and trademarks. These are protected through rights of exclusivity. Another aspect of protection is through the suppression of unfair competition, which is directed against acts of industrial or commercial competitors contrary to honest practices, including:
(i) acts that can create confusion with a competitor’s establishment, products, industrial or commercial activities;
(ii) false claims that can discredit a competitor’s establishment, products, industrial or commercial activities; and
(iii) indications or claims that can mislead the public as to the nature of the manufacturing process or the characteristics, suitability or quantity of products.
