Intellectual property rights have, in fact, been a part of the American pantheon of types of property rights since the very beginning of the nation, but using that term to describe them is a new phenomenon dating to the second half of the last century. The recognition of the importance of protection of intellectual property rights became extremely important and distinctly more difficult as new technologies made it possible for unscrupulous "intellectual property pirates" to purloin, steal, or otherwise make off with the intellectual property of the unaware. This book introduces you to the underlying logic of intellectual property rights-how to acquire them, why they exist, the benefits derived from their ownership, and how they can be protected from the unscrupulous. Inside, you'll learn legal and commonsense alternatives that provide the keys to protection which are outlined with detailed instructions. The availability of intellectual property rights protection, both domestic and international, is outlined and discussed, as are the history of and current trends relevant to the legal rights of the intellectual property owner and the limits of protection provided by the law and by extralegal alternatives of providing protection.