Chapter 4 Building Intellectual Property Rights One of the distinctive features of this book on Research methodology is the inclusion of a Chapter on Intellectual Property Rights. However, a researcher needs to not only know how to effectively and ethically conduct research, but also must be aware of the rights that the intellectual property developed during the process of research work entails. The researcher is expected to develop the mindset of an inventor and a basic understanding of the patent laws helps in this regard. Intellectual Property (IP) is the terminology attributed to intangible assets having commercial value, and arising from human intelligence, creativity, and imagination, but typically lacking physical form. The major types of IP are 1. Trademarks: A trademark is a sign that suitably differentiates the owner’s goods or services from those of others. 2. Patents: A patent is a legal record that bestows the holder the exclusive right over an invention as per the claims, in a limited geographical domain and for a limited duration by thwarting possible interested parties from any form of manufacture, use or sale of the product or outcome of the invention. In theory, the applicant (or inventor) can draft a patent application but given the technical and procedural complexity, in practice, patent lawyers and researchers collaboratively write such applications. 3. Industrial Designs: An industrial design protection is related to certain specific ornamental shapes associated with products whose duplication the owner may wish to thwart. 4. Copyright: Copyright is the right bestowed on the owner or creator in relation to publication, and distribution of a piece of writing, music, picture or related works. Copyright also applies to technical contents such as software, datasheets, and related documents. Copyrights generally do not need registration with a government body. The rest of the Intellectual Property Rights must be sanctioned by, and registered with, a government office for recognition and enforcement. © Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2019 D. Deb et al., Engineering Research Methodology, Intelligent Systems Reference Library 153, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2947-0_4 37