Four Key Form of intellectual property
知识产权的四种主要形式

1. **Patents**: Protect inventions and give the holder exclusive rights to prevent others from making, using, or selling the invention. There are three types:
1. **专利**：保护发明并赋予持有人专有权以防止他人制造、使用或销售该发明。共有三种类型：

- **Utility patents**: For new processes or machines (lasts 20 years).
- **实用专利**：适用于新工艺或机器（有效期 20 年）。

- **Design patents**: For the unique design of a product (lasts 14 years).
- **设计专利**：产品的独特设计（有效期14年）。

- **Plant patents**: For new plant varieties (lasts 20 years).
- **植物专利**：针对新植物品种（有效期 20 年）。

2. **Trademarks**: Protect symbols, words, or designs that identify the source of goods or services. They help consumers distinguish between products and services. Trademarks are renewable every 10 years as long as they remain in use.
2. **商标**：保护标识商品或服务来源的符号、文字或设计。它们帮助消费者区分产品和服务。只要商标仍在使用，则每 10 年可续展一次。

3. **Copyrights**: Protect original works of authorship such as books, music, and software. They grant the owner exclusive rights to use and distribute their works. Copyright is automatically applied once the work is created in a tangible form.
3. **版权**：保护原创作品，例如书籍、音乐和软件。他们授予所有者使用和分发其作品的专有权。一旦作品以有形形式创建，版权就会自动应用。

4. **Trade Secrets**: Protect confidential business information that provides a competitive edge, like formulas or processes. Unlike patents, trade secrets are protected as long as the information remains confidential.
4. **商业秘密**：保护提供竞争优势的机密商业信息，例如公式或流程。与专利不同，只要信息保密，商业秘密就受到保护。

These forms of intellectual property help businesses secure their innovations, brands, and creative works, giving them a competitive advantage and potential revenue streams
这些形式的知识产权帮助企业保护其创新、品牌和创意作品，为他们提供竞争优势和潜在的收入来源