Intellectual property involves human creations that can be protected by law. There are three types: copyright law (original works by authors), trademark law (a distinctive word, phrase, logo, or other graphic symbol used by a company), and patent law (inventions, discoveries, or procedures of a person or entity). Protections for intellectual property are provided through laws, conventions, treaties, and agreements. This entry focuses on intellectual property in the United States and primarily on copyright law because copyrighted materials are the most used type of intellectual property in the nonprofit educational setting. This entry first discusses trademark and patent law, then copyright and fair use. Later, the entry discusses various guidelines pertaining to the use of copyrighted material.