Intellectual property lawyers generally specialize in either patent law or copyright and trademark law. In the U.S. all property rights that are intellectual-based may be protected by law through filing applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Many lawyers are skilled in the application process for protecting these intellectual property rights. While the subject property rights themselves can have an almost unlimited potential scope, to be protected under the law they must be unique in some way. Intellectual property lawyers help clients explain this uniqueness in their patent, trademark or copyright applications. Once approved, intellectual property is protected against infringement for a number of years and the owner of a patent, trademark or copyright can sue for damages and request injunctive relief.