What does intellectual property protect?

Intellectual property is a legal concept designed to protect creations that originate from a person's or an organization's intellect. This includes a range of intangible assets such as inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, symbols, names, and images used in commerce. By protecting these ideas and creations, intellectual property laws ensure that creators have the exclusive rights to their work, allowing them to benefit financially and control the use of their intellectual output.

In contrast, the other options focus on areas outside of what intellectual property safeguards. For example, physical assets refer to tangible items that can be touched or seen, such as machinery, buildings, and inventory, which are not covered under intellectual property laws. Employee performance and behavior pertain more to human resource management and organizational behavior rather than intellectual contributions. Lastly, corporate financial records are related to financial management and accounting practices and do not fall under the scope of intellectual property, which is specifically about protecting creative and innovative ideas. This distinction is crucial for understanding the broader context of business law and the importance of safeguarding intellectual contributions.