Are trademark and copyright the same thing?
23-05-10Trademarks and copyright are both forms of intellectual property, but they protect different types of assets and have registration requirements. Overall, copyright protects literary and artistic materials and works, such as books and videos, and is automatically generated upon the creation of the work. A trademark protects items that help define a company brand, such as a business logo or slogan, and requires more extensive registration through the government for the greatest legal protections. Trademarks protect brand names, logos, and other marks that identify and distinguish the source of goods or services, while copyrights protect original creative works of authorship, such as books, music, and artwork. The main difference between trademarks and copyrights is the type of intellectual property rights they afford. Trademarks are used to protect the branding and reputation of a company or product, while copyrights protect the creative expression of an idea. Trademarks provide exclusive rights to use a distinctive mark with goods or services, while copyrights give exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, and display creative works. While both trademarks and copyrights are valuable forms of intellectual property, they serve different purposes and protect different types of creative works. Read more about other types of IP and how to differentiate them.