ABSTRACT

This chapter provides an overview of intellectual property, focusing on elements of interest to engineers and scientists in the fields of thermoelectric materials and devices. It discusses the engineers and scientists with sufficient background information regarding intellectual property to enable them to appreciate the subject, recognize when legal assistance should be obtained to protect intellectual property, and assist legal counsel in identifying and documenting intellectual property. Intellectual property is important to engineers and scientists because much of the value of their work results in or is protected by patents, copyrights, trade secrets, and technical know-how. Most countries have adopted intellectual property laws to protect the intellectual creations of their engineers and scientists, as well as of their artists, authors, musicians, and others who create things of value to society that could otherwise be copied. Some countries have laws protecting works of engineering design that can be readily copied, such as by making a mold of the product.