{"id":32101,"date":"2018-11-01T11:00:06","date_gmt":"2018-11-01T15:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.davison.com\/?p=32101"},"modified":"2018-11-01T11:00:06","modified_gmt":"2018-11-01T15:00:06","slug":"copyright-patent-and-trademark-whats-the-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.davison.com\/blog\/copyright-patent-and-trademark-whats-the-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"Copyright, Patent, and Trademark: What’s the Difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve ever used the terms patent, copyright, and trademark interchangeably, you\u2019re not alone. The difference between the three can sometimes feel negligible at best. Instead of mistaking definitions, however, here\u2019s a brief overview of each term and how they apply to the confusing world of intellectual property.<\/p>\n

NOTE: While this is a general guide to follow, there are quirks and minor details not covered below. It\u2019s also important to know what the umbrella term of \u201cintellectual property\u201d means, as it can refer to copyrights, trademarks, and patents, or any combination of the three. According to the World Intellectual Property Organization, \u201cintellectual property\u201d is defined as \u201ccreations of the mind: inventions; literary and artistic works; and symbols, names, and images used in commerce.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Trademark\"
Trademark<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

TRADEMARK<\/strong><\/p>\n

A trademark protects a symbol, word, slogan, design, name, and\/or image that identifies the source of goods or services. For example, the smiling face logo of Wal-Mart is trademarked, as is the slogan \u201cSave Money, Live Better.\u201d Owning the trademark is basically a notice of ownership that the public can see. Registered trademarks are the ones that can use the \u00ae symbol to defend their work.<\/p>\n

If you own a trademark and see somebody using it without permission, you can sue for infringement. However, this only applies to the country you\u2019ve registered the trademark in- if it hasn\u2019t been registered there, your legal rights are much less powerful. A trademark\u00a0is valid for an unlimited amount of time, as long as it is used in commerce, but must be renewed every 10 years or it lapses.<\/p>\n

Of additional note is the term \u201cservice mark.\u201d This is for the slogans, symbols, logos, and words associated with a service, not a place to purchase goods. Ronald McDonald and other icons associated with McDonald\u2019s are protected under service mark.<\/p>\n

\"Patented
Patented Book<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

PATENTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Patents are for inventors and designers. Machines, chemical combinations, specific processes, or even the design of a product can be patented. Unlike trademarks and copyrights, it cannot be renewed. When the twenty-year patent term expires, the item in question becomes part of the public domain. However, during that time, the owner has the right to exclude others from making, using or selling the invention.<\/p>\n

While many items that are patented remain under the protection of their creator, others may choose to sell them to companies and enjoy royalties from the sales. The company takes over the ownership of the item and most of the sales, while the inventor gets a base sum after selling the item and small payments with each purchase of the product.<\/p>\n

Patents and trademarks are both served out of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, at least in America. There are also three types of patents you can apply for: a design patent, a plant patent, and a utility patent. Each variety has its own paperwork and system to filing.<\/p>\n

\"Copyright\"
Copyright<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

COPYRIGHTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

This applies to the work of many creative types. \u00a0Copyrights are automatically granted upon creation of an original work. Artists, choreographers, musicians, authors, architects, and other creative professionals also can register a copyright for their work. However, the work must be in a tangible state; it\u2019s impossible to copyright just an idea. Some copyrights are part of a larger trademark. For example, the video game Overwatch <\/em>and its logo are trademarked to Blizzard, but the mascot character of Tracer is copywritten.<\/p>\n

Also, much like a trademark, a copyright is a public notice of ownership. It\u2019s legal evidence that can be used to sue those who infringe upon your work, so long as the paperwork is in order. A copyright never has to be renewed and is valid for life various terms, depending on whether or not the work is for hire. If not for hire, the current copyright duration is for the life of the creator, plus 70 years.<\/p>\n

Within the United States, the Copyright Office is part of the Library of Congress. Most copyrighted works are subject to the Fair Use doctrine, or how said products can be used without permission in the public domain. Parodying a song or showcasing footage of a video game in a review is allowed under Fair Use. Uploading an entire movie to YouTube for others to watch for free, on the other hand, is not. This has been the source of some controversy lately as the definition of Fair Use evolves and shifts.<\/p>\n

Again, this guide is by no means all-encompassing. There are many details that weren\u2019t covered in the above descriptions and you should not consider this legal advice. Nevertheless, hopefully, you understand the basic differences between \u00a9,<\/span>\u00a0\u00ae, and \u2122 now and what types of protection are available.<\/p>\n

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Now that you were able to learn about trademarks, copyright, and patents you hopefully have a better understanding of where to head next on your inventors’ journey.\u00a0 Not sure about what steps to take next? Check out our inventor quiz to help you learn what kind of inventor you are!<\/p>\n

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