What is intellectual property?

Intellectual property is any property that is intangible. The concept of intellectual property covers such things as music and lyrics, ideas for inventions, film and television scripts, artwork, and branding concepts. The legal realm of intellectual property governs the protection of intellectual property and what happens when individuals or organizations violate—or trespass on—others' intellectual property. In other words, if you have an original idea, you have the right for that idea to be protected from theft of all or part of it. The protection of intellectual property takes place under copyright and patent laws. Copyright protects artwork of any kind, while patent protects inventions and the concepts surrounding them.

Why is it important to learn about intellectual property?

The most important reasons to learn about intellectual property are to ensure that you don't violate the laws that govern the protection of intellectual property and to understand how to protect your own ideas. The laws and regulations that concern intellectual property help to protect innovation and make sure that proper credit goes to those who develop different forms of intellectual property. Knowing about intellectual property allows you to keep and defend your ideas and avoid infringing on the ideas that others have devised.

What are typical careers that use intellectual property?

Artists, inventors, and innovators in multiple industries deal with intellectual property issues on an almost daily basis. Intellectual property is at the forefront of careers in the arts, technology, and medicine. If you're serious about developing new ideas ranging from a new corporate logo to medical breakthroughs to the next popular television show, a thorough knowledge of intellectual property is essential to your line of work.

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn intellectual property?

Online courses on Coursera can give you knowledge of intellectual property law and its ramifications in various industries. You can take online courses that give you a broad view of the concepts that surround intellectual property, and you'll find courses that cover more specific subjects like copyright law for music and how to protect ideas in the medical sector.

What are the benefits of taking an online Intellectual Property course?

Online Intellectual Property courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Intellectual Property skills. Choose from a wide range of Intellectual Property courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Intellectual Property courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Intellectual Property, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Best Intellectual Property Courses & Certificates [2025]

Explore the Intellectual Property Course Catalog

Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
Intellectual Property Law
Skills you'll gain: Intellectual Property, Brand Strategy, Legal Strategy, Legal Research, Packaging and Labeling, Brand Management, Brand Awareness, Legal Writing, Business Strategy, Case Law, Technology Strategies, Marketing, Legal Risk, Registration, Innovation, Asset Management, Strategic Thinking, Writing and Editing, Creativity, Planning
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1.5K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
Introduction to Intellectual Property
Skills you'll gain: Intellectual Property, Legal Strategy, Business Strategy, Technology Strategies, Innovation, Asset Management, Brand Management, Brand Strategy, Economics, Business Valuation, Research, Policy Analysis
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Preview
EDHEC Business School
Intellectual Property as Competitive Advantage for Companies
Skills you'll gain: Intellectual Property, Legal Strategy, Business Strategy, Asset Protection, Regulation and Legal Compliance, Asset Management, Corporate Strategy, Competitive Analysis, Strategic Partnership, Product Knowledge, Portfolio Management, Brand Management, Entrepreneurship
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Preview
Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
Patenting in Biotechnology
Skills you'll gain: Intellectual Property, Chemistry, Decision Making, Pharmaceuticals, Legal Risk, Regulation and Legal Compliance, Commercialization, Analysis
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
239 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Preview
Duke University
Copyright for Multimedia
Skills you'll gain: Intellectual Property, Music, Data Sharing, Multimedia, Electronic Media, Video Production, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Photography
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
417 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Maryland, College Park
Intellectual Property for Entrepreneurs
Skills you'll gain: Intellectual Property, Entrepreneurship, Legal Strategy, Regulation and Legal Compliance, Business Strategy, Legal Risk, Legal Research, Registration, Innovation, New Business Development
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
76 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

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Status: Free Trial
University of Maryland, College Park
Legal Aspects of Entrepreneurship
Skills you'll gain: Intellectual Property, Risk Management, Commercial Laws, Business Risk Management, Contract Review, Legal Research, Legal Risk, Contract Management, Contract Negotiation, Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurial Finance, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Mergers & Acquisitions, Labor Law, Sales, Business Management, Human Resources, Legal Strategy, Regulation and Legal Compliance, Business Strategy
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
255 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Tecnológico de Monterrey
Innovation and entrepreneurship
Skills you'll gain: Innovation, Business Modeling, Entrepreneurship, Corporate Strategy, Design Thinking, Lean Methodologies, Creative Problem-Solving, Business Architecture, Strategic Leadership, Brainstorming, Business Strategies, Business Process, Process Design, Creative Thinking, Business Strategy, Ideation, New Business Development, Organizational Strategy, Business Management, Process Development
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
73 reviews
Advanced · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Innovation: From Creativity to Entrepreneurship
Skills you'll gain: Creativity, Innovation, Creative Thinking, Value Propositions, Market Opportunities, Entrepreneurship, Ideation, Brainstorming, Business Modeling, Technology Strategies, Curiosity, Open Mindset, Organizational Strategy, Go To Market Strategy, Team Building, Cognitive flexibility, Product Lifecycle Management, Strategic Thinking, Entrepreneurial Finance, Persuasive Communication
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
3.7K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
Copyright Law
Skills you'll gain: Intellectual Property, Writing and Editing, Creativity, Legal Research, Music, Digital Content
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
370 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
Berklee
Music Business
Skills you'll gain: Intellectual Property, Relationship Building, Professional Networking, Creativity, Music History, Entrepreneurship, Problem Solving, Presentations, Professional Development, Creative Thinking, Innovation, Resilience, Music, Contract Negotiation, Lawsuits, Legal Proceedings, Business, Social Media, Revenue Management, Digital Content
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
3.3K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Queen Mary University of London
Cloud Computing Law
Skills you'll gain: General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Cloud Security, Tax Laws, Tax, Cloud Services, Intellectual Property, Legal Risk, Cloud Computing, Law, Regulation, and Compliance, Personally Identifiable Information, Tax Compliance, Sales Tax, Data Security, Corporate Tax, Information Privacy, Regulation and Legal Compliance, Vendor Contracts, Income Tax, Data Access, Cybersecurity
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
165 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months