SEPTEMBER 28, 2026

Legal English Vocabulary: Key Terms in Intellectual Property Law
This week IngLesLegal turns to intellectual property (IP) law, the branch protecting creations of the mind — inventions, brands, and creative works. As Latin American businesses increasingly expand into US markets, these ten terms are essential for bilingual professionals advising clients on protecting and enforcing their IP rights.
1. Patent
Meaning: A government-granted right that gives an inventor the exclusive ability to make, use, or sell an invention for a limited period, typically twenty years.
Equivalent English expressions: Patent protection, patent right
Spanish equivalent: Patente
Law branches: Intellectual Property Law, Commercial Law
Example: "The company obtained a patent for its new water filtration technology."
2. Trademark
Meaning: A recognizable sign, word, phrase, symbol, or design that identifies and distinguishes the goods or services of one party from those of others.
Equivalent English expressions: Trade name, brand mark
Spanish equivalent: Marca registrada
Law branches: Intellectual Property Law, Commercial Law
Example: "The company registered its logo as a trademark to prevent competitors from using a similar design."
3. Copyright
Meaning: A legal right that protects original works of authorship, such as books, music, and software, giving the creator exclusive rights to reproduce and distribute the work.
Equivalent English expressions: Author's right, copyright protection
Spanish equivalent: Derecho de autor
Law branches: Intellectual Property Law
Example: "The photographer held the copyright to every image published on the website."
4. Infringement
Meaning: The unauthorized use, reproduction, or violation of another party's protected intellectual property rights.
Equivalent English expressions: IP violation, unauthorized use
Spanish equivalent: Infracción de propiedad intelectual
Law branches: Intellectual Property Law, Civil Litigation
Example: "The lawsuit alleged infringement of the company's registered trademark by a competing brand."
5. Trade Secret
Meaning: Confidential business information, such as a formula or process, that provides a competitive advantage and is protected as long as it remains secret.
Equivalent English expressions: Confidential business information, proprietary information
Spanish equivalent: Secreto comercial / Secreto industrial
Law branches: Intellectual Property Law, Employment Law
Example: "The former employee was sued for disclosing the company's trade secret formula to a competitor."
6. License
Meaning: A legal agreement that grants permission to use intellectual property owned by another party, typically in exchange for payment or royalties.
Equivalent English expressions: Licensing agreement, usage permission
Spanish equivalent: Licencia
Law branches: Intellectual Property Law, Contract Law
Example: "The software company granted a license allowing the client to use the platform for internal purposes only."
7. Fair Use
Meaning: A legal doctrine that permits limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes such as commentary, criticism, education, or news reporting.
Equivalent English expressions: Fair dealing (in some jurisdictions), permitted use exception
Spanish equivalent: Uso justo / Uso legítimo
Law branches: Intellectual Property Law
Example: "The professor argued that quoting a short passage in a lecture qualified as fair use."
8. Prior Art
Meaning: Any evidence that an invention was already known or publicly available before a patent application was filed, which can be used to challenge a patent's validity.
Equivalent English expressions: Previously existing technology, preexisting disclosure
Spanish equivalent: Estado de la técnica / Arte previo
Law branches: Intellectual Property Law
Example: "The examiner rejected the application after finding prior art describing a nearly identical device."
9. Cease and Desist
Meaning: A formal letter demanding that a party stop an allegedly unlawful activity, such as using protected intellectual property, or face legal action.
Equivalent English expressions: Cease-and-desist letter, demand letter
Spanish equivalent: Carta de cesación / Requerimiento de cese
Law branches: Intellectual Property Law, Civil Litigation
Example: "The law firm sent a cease and desist letter demanding the competitor stop using the similar logo."
10. Royalty
Meaning: A payment made to the owner of intellectual property in exchange for the right to use it, typically calculated as a percentage of sales or revenue.
Equivalent English expressions: License fee, usage royalty
Spanish equivalent: Regalía
Law branches: Intellectual Property Law, Contract Law
Example: "The author receives a royalty of ten percent on every copy of the book sold."
As cross-border commerce grows, intellectual property vocabulary becomes increasingly valuable for professionals advising clients on protecting their brands, inventions, and creative work internationally. We'll be back next week with another set of key legal English terms.

 
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