To understand what industrial property is, we need first to understand a broader term, intellectual property (IP). The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a United Nation (UN) agency in charge of IP, says Intellectual property refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names and images used in commerce and it is divided into the following types of rights:-

•  Patent rights that deals with protection of inventions. Patents are granted by KIPI under the Industrial Property Act, 2001;
• Utility Model rights that deals with protection of innovations. Utility model rights are granted by KIPI under the Industrial Property Act 2001;
• Industrial design rights that deal with protection of shapes and ornamental aspects of products of industry. Designs are granted by KIPI under the Industrial Property Act 2001;
• Technovations. This is a recognition certificate given by an employer to an employee where the employee provides a solution to a specific problem within the company;
• Trade Mark rights that relate to signs and symbols for distinguishing goods and services of different enterprises. Trademarks are registered by KIPI under the Trade Marks Act;
• Copy rights and related rights, administered by the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) under the Copyright Act 2001, and also by collective management organizations (CMOs) such the Music Copyright Society (MCSK), KOPIKEN and performers ' rights society of Kenya (PRISK);
• Plant Breeders rights administered by Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS); and
• Trade secrets/confidential information.  A trade secret is Company's information that is not generally known to the public and confers economic benefit on its holder and of which the owner has taken measures to keep it secret. An example is the Coca-Cola recipe. If a trade secret is stolen or acquired through illegal means, the owner can seek remedy in Court.