Intellectual property is a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human mind. There are many types of IP such as copyrights, patents, trademarks, and trade secrets. The modern concept of intellectual property developed in Europe a few centuries ago, but in the late 20th century the concept became commonplace in the majority of the world's legal systems.

The main purpose of intellectual property law is to encourage and protect the creation of a large and healthy mass of intellectual goods. To achieve this, the law gives people and businesses property rights to the information and intellectual products they create.

But given the intangibility of ideas and the ability to use common elements to create similar outcomes, Intellectual property especially to the lay person is becoming more and more confusing.

Adding to this confusion is the digital revolution in which publications, articles, pictures, and even business ideas can be available at the touch of a button. Furthermore, social media has elevated us all to mini content producers punching out our blogs, Insta memes, and Facebook posts at an ever-increasing pace.

Surely if you are a founder or a budding entrepreneur, it behooves you to protect your own and be wary of other’s intellectual property. But what about you and me? The average, everyday Joe and Jane, clicking away in our ever favorite social media app?

Trevor Schmidt is a lawyer for Hutchinson Law who has extensive experience in matters associated with intellectual property prosecution, licensing, enforcement and strategic counseling. He effectively works with companies to monetize and protect their intellectual property through licensing, development, reseller agreements and associated contracts. Having managed domestic and international trademark portfolios for Fortune 500 companies, he has considerable experience in all stages of the life of a trademark including prosecution before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Trevor routinely provides counsel on the intellectual property issues associated with major transactions and advises clients on maximizing their intellectual property assets through enforcement and licensing strategies.

Trevor is also a registered patent attorney with a technical background in physics. He has drafted a number of mechanical-, business method- and software-related patent applications.

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