What does intellectual property encompass?

The correct choice highlights that intellectual property encompasses creations of the mind, which includes a wide range of categories such as inventions, literary and artistic works, as well as symbols, names, and images used in commerce. This definition aligns with the broader understanding of intellectual property, which is designed to protect various forms of creativity and innovation, enabling creators to have exclusive rights to their works. This protection encourages further creativity and investment in new ideas and expressions.

By recognizing inventions (like patents), literary and artistic works (like copyright), and commercial symbols and names (like trademarks), this choice captures the comprehensive nature of intellectual property law, which serves various sectors and interests in society. In contrast, the other options are limited in scope, failing to acknowledge the full diversity of what intellectual property represents.