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Intellectual property theft specifically pertains to the theft of trade secrets or patent rights because it involves the unauthorized appropriation of intangible assets that are crucial for a company's competitive advantage and innovation. Intellectual property (IP) includes creations of the mind such as inventions, designs, brands, and artistic works. When someone illegally obtains or uses these assets without permission, it undermines the owner's rights and can result in significant financial losses and damage to their reputation.

This type of theft is distinct from stealing physical assets or manipulating data, as it focuses on the unlawful acquisition of knowledge-based commodities rather than tangible goods or information systems. Unauthorized access to a system is also related to cybercrime but does not specifically address the concept of stealing intellectual property, which centers on ideas and proprietary information rather than physical or manipulated data elements.