intellectual property

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

intellectual property
    n 1: intangible property that is the result of creativity (such
         as patents or trademarks or copyrights)

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

intellectual property

   <legal> (IP) The ownership of ideas and control over the
   tangible or virtual representation of those ideas.  Use of
   another person's intellectual property may or may not involve
   royalty payments or permission, but should always include
   proper credit to the source.

   (1997-03-27)