Intellectual property rights are divided into two categories:
One is: industrial property rights; (patents, trademarks, factory names, industrial designs, etc. )
One is: copyright.
Software copyright belongs to a kind of copyright, so software copyright belongs to a kind of intellectual property.
Article 123 of the Civil Code defines intellectual property rights. Civil subjects enjoy intellectual property rights according to law.
Intellectual property rights are the exclusive rights enjoyed by the obligee to the following objects according to law:
(1) works;
(2) Inventions, utility models and designs;
(3) Trademarks;
(4) Geographical indications;
(5) Business secrets;
(6) Layout design of integrated circuits;
(7) New plant varieties;
(8) Other objects prescribed by law.