Every invention springs from an idea. When this idea is written down, it becomes intellectual property, or IP. There are four categories of IP: patent, copyright, trademark and trade secrets. So how does a person protect their IP through these different avenues?

In spring 2024, the PBS NewsHour Classroom's Invention Ed Fellows met over Zoom to learn about using IP in invention ed courses from Kathy Hoppe, a veteran science teacher, and founder of STEMisED and a consultant with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO) education office.

You can watch the full session here, or keep reading to view selected clips.

Why invention education is important for students, including those with special needs:

Why trademark knowledge is important for all types of students, including budding entrepreneurs:

How one 11-year-old created an invention we still enjoy today:

An explanation of trademarks:

This post was produced by NewsHour's Vic Pasquantonio and Benjamin Thernstrom, a senior at Washington-Liberty High School in Arlington, Virginia, and intern with PBS NewsHour Classroom.

If you would like to know more about invention education or PBS NewsHour Classroom's Invention Educator Network, contact vpasquantonio@newshour.org for information.