How do copyrights, trademarks and patents differ?
When you hear the word "property," you picture something solid or physical, like real estate or jewelry, computers, etc. Above all, intellectual property gives legal rights in intangible form. The three forms of intellectual property are copyrights, trademarks, and patents. Now you must be wondering that how do copyrights, trademarks and patents differ?
Each of
those three bodies of law protects very different types of work, and it's worth
learning the differences between them before determining whether you may
qualify for them. Also, it is crucial to get your trademark registration
online before someone else acquires it.
What is Copyright?
A
copyright is a power you receive when creating original artwork or anything
artistic like logo, symbol, font or word creation.
It covers
the right to reproduce work, prepare relative works, distribute copies in the
market and showcase publicly.
Most
importantly, you have the power to transfer your work individually to one or
more people or to sell them collectively as the owner of the copyright.
You can
do it by licensing, distributing, and other transfers. The power of copyright
gives you the right to choose the way your work is made available to the
public.
What is a Patent?
Inventors
and designers file for patents to protect their inventions. Also, it includes
machines, processes, chemical compositions or the design of a product.
When you file
a patent, you get exclusive rights to stop others from making, using, selling
and importing your creativity.
Above
all, a patent protects your work for 20 years without renewal.
However,
sometimes a product appears in more than one category. For instance, the
software codes are protected by copyright, on the other hand, a patent protects
the practical creation of the idea, and a trademark will guard the company name
or logo.
Preserving
intellectual property is a complicated task. It keeps on changing with every
step of innovation, research or development.
Therefore,
a product can have all three intellectual property rights. In other words, a
patent for a feature, copyright for a creative aspect and trademark for a name
or logo.
What is a Trademark?
Generally,
a trademark is a term, slogan, logo, design, or a combination of all. It
differentiates the origin of the goods and services between opponents. Also, a
service mark and trademark is similar in many aspects. However, a service mark
is only used for services. Therefore, it is advisable to register your
trademark as soon as you decide to protect it from getting a copy.
3 Must Know differences between Copyright, Patent
and Trademark
- What
does it protect?
Copyright - Original work like books, articles, songs,
photographs, sculptures, choreography, sound recordings, motion pictures, etc.
Patents - Inventions, processes, machines, manufactures,
compositions of stuff and improvements to any of these.
Trademark - Names, slogan, logo, design that differences the
origin of the goods.
- What
is the period it protects the work?
Copyright - The life of the owner plus 60 years after the
death.
Patents - 20 years after registration
Trademark - For as long as you use it but has to be renewed
after every 10 years.
- What
are the powers you get under each?
Copyright -Right to duplicate, making an alternate, selling
and public display of the work.
Patents - Right to stop anyone from executing, selling,
adopting or selling the patented work.
Trademark - Right to use the registered logo, name, symbol,
design or slogan. Also, you can limit anyone from using the same for their
brand because that would create confusion about goods or services.
In
conclusion, you now have a brief idea on how do copyrights, patents and
trademarks differ and what exactly they mean. Also, how you can use each of
them for your benefit and protect your rights over each of your original work,
art and discovery.
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