International Journal of Control Theory and Applications 457 Museums and Management of Intellectual Property Jenny-Paola Lis-Gutiérrez a , Amelec Viloria b , Mercedes Gaitán-Angulo c , Manuel Ignacio Balaguera d and Paula-Alejandra Rodríguez e a Fundación Universitaria Konrad Lorenz, Bogotá, Colombia. Email: jenny.lis@konradlorenz.edu.co b Universidad de la Costa, Colombia, Barranquilla, Colombia, Email: aviloria7@cuc.edu.co c-e Fundación Universitaria Konrad Lorenz, Bogotá, Colombia. Email: c mercedes.gaitana@konradlorenz.edu.co; d manueli.balagueraj@ konradlorenz.edu.co; e paulaa.rodriguezg@konradlorenz.edu.co Abstract: This article aims to present the management of intellectual property in museums, in a scenario where these cultural institutions became users who not only respect the intellectual property, but are intermediaries in the possible use for third parties. The document explains the different conceptions of museum and the importance of management of intellectual property in museums. It identified that intellectual property in museums generally serves two functions which must be balanced: (i) the greatest possible social diffusion ensuring the copyright and (ii) the commercial exploitation of intellectual property, in order to ensure the survival of the cultural institution. Keyword: Museum, management of intellectual property, industrial property. IntRoductIon 1. The term museum comes from the Latin mouseion, which means “temple of the muses” [1]. The museums can be understood, according to the International Council of Museums as a permanent non-profit institution, at the service of society and its development, open to the public, and conducts research on the material testimonies of the human being and his environment, which he acquires, preserves, communicates and exhibits, with Purposes of study, education and enjoyment [2]. In this sense, it is necessary to draw attention to one of the main roles of museums: the creation of a national ethos and a nation project [3], insofar as it reflects the culture and traditions of a people and that allows the temporary connection (past, present and future). Likewise, museums create knowledge, projects and ideas of the future, which feedback comes from the social imaginary of a nation and is related to the creation of knowledge. Related to the last point is the fact that museums are responsible for preservation (including the acquisition, conservation and management of collections), research, communication (education and exhibition) of the elements in custody and management (understood as the action that ensures the management of the administrative affairs International Journal of Control Teory and Applications ISSN : 0974-5572 „ International Science Press Volume 9 • Number 44 • 2016