Patents provide inventors the exclusive right to exclude others from using their invention for a set period of time. Trademarks indicate the source of a product and copyright protects original creative works. The library can provide general information on patents, trademarks, and copyrights, but cannot provide legal advice on specific cases due to unauthorized practice of law concerns. The librarian recommends free online resources like the USPTO website which includes guides for inventors. Basic patent number searches can be done easily online, while name searches may require trying different variations since product names are not always mentioned. A multi-step classification search strategy utilizing indexes, schedules, and references is suggested for comprehensive patent searches.