Running head: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 1
Intellectual Property Discussion Board
Tiffany Smith
Liberty University
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 2
Intellectual Property Discussion Board
Consumers usually have the advantage of shopping around and buying things later or at a
cheaper price because of imitation/black market items. Imitation items can be found anywhere
and are popular amongst consumers that can’t afford the authentic items. Imitation items can be
any type of clothing, shoes, purses, etc. (“Black market – New World Encyclopedia,” n.d.)
Patents were created to protect a company’s intellectual property and every company has a right
to protect what they have invented from those that want to just come along and make a profit
from someone’s hard work. A patent is a right granted to an inventor by the federal government
that permits the inventor to exclude others from making, selling or using the invention for a
period. The patent system is designed to encourage inventions that are unique and useful to
