f a company develops a new technology that improves its main product, what type of intellectual property can they use to stop others from copying their invention? 

Trademarks. 

Geographical indications. 

Patents. 

Copyright. 

Registered designs. 

Patents.

Patents.

To determine the type of intellectual property that can be used to protect a company's invention, we need to understand the different forms of intellectual property rights and their corresponding applications.

Trademarks primarily safeguard branding elements such as logos, names, or symbols that identify and distinguish products or services from others. They do not provide protection for inventions or technologies.

Geographical indications indicate the origin of a certain product and do not directly protect inventions or technologies.

Copyright applies to the protection of original artistic, literary, or creative works such as books, paintings, music, or software. While it could be applicable to certain aspects of a technology, it might not provide comprehensive protection for the new invention as a whole.

Registered designs protect the visual appearance of a product, focusing on the external design elements rather than the underlying technology.

Patents, on the other hand, are the most relevant form of intellectual property for protecting new technologies. Patents grant exclusive rights to the inventors, preventing others from making, using, selling, or importing the claimed invention for a specified period of time. A company can use patents to stop others from directly copying their technology, providing strong protection for their improved product.

In conclusion, to prevent others from copying their invention, a company can utilize patents as a form of intellectual property protection.