Presenting Mathematical Concepts on the World Wide Web
Intellectual Property Rights ... and Wrongs

Copyright protects:

• the words, images, sounds, etc., used to express an idea,
• the selection and arrangment of ideas,
• but not ideas or facts themselves.

Patent protects (as long as they are novel and non-obvious):

• ideas expressed as an invention, and new uses for them.

Trademark protects (given particularly strong enforcement by the owner):

• names, titles, short phrases.

Trade secrets (rarely used in "publish or perish" situations) protect:

• an idea, written words, formula, process, procedure, technical design, list, marketing plan, etc.
• or any other non-public information that offers its owner a competitive advantage.

Other forms of protection (e.g., contractual protection) also exist.