The legal entitlement attached to the expressed form of an idea or other intangible subject matter is called which term?

• A. Copyright
• B. Trademark
• C. Patent
• D. Intellectual property rights

Answer: (D)

Intellectual property rights are the legal entitlements that attach to creations of the mind once they’re expressed or fixed in a tangible form. This umbrella covers the protections for ideas expressed in works, inventions, and brand identifiers, giving the creator exclusive rights to use or license them. Specifically, copyright protects original works fixed in a tangible medium, patents protect new inventions, and trademarks protect brand identifiers. Since the question refers to the entitlement attached to the expressed form of an idea or intangible subject matter, the broad term that fits this concept is intellectual property rights.