The protection of intellectual property comes in four classes.
1. Copyright; covers text, books, diagrams, pictures and movies. It prevents others from copying your original work. Protection lasts for about 70 years beyond the creators death.
2. Trademark; covers a symbol, word or phrase that is used for product differentiation in the market place. Once registered, the mark can be perpetual so long as renewal payments are made.
3. Registered Design; cover the shape of things, but not what coloured pattern you paint on them. You must submit pictures and diagrams that define the shape and design of the object. It can last a long time if you keep paying the renewal fees. (Painting it with a different pattern will NOT void your design protection, but to also protect any visual surface pattern you would need separate copyright).
4. Letters Patent; cover new principles of manufacture or functionality. The invention must be novel (not mentioned anywhere in the last 50 years), and you must describe it clearly (patent) in a text document (letters). You have about 25 years protection while you 'tool up' and get your novel product into the marketplace. If you fail to pay the renewal fees, or after about 25 years, others can use the public patent documents to help copy your invention.
Just to make it more interesting, and profitable for the lawyers, each country has slightly different laws.