What is the difference between copyright, trademark, and trade secret law?

Copyright law protects an artist’s original work of authorship, such as a painting, musical composition, or photograph, from being copied, distributed, or performed without the artist’s permission. Copyright law grants the artist exclusive rights to control the use of their work for a certain period of time. In Delaware, copyright protection exists for the life of the artist plus an additional 70 years after their death. Trademark law protects an artist’s name, logo, slogan, or other recognizable symbols that are associated with their work. It is meant to prevent others from using the same or similar mark to market their own products or services. This protection applies only within the geographic area of Delaware, but may be extended to the rest of the United States through federal trademark registration. Trade secret law is used to protect confidential information, such as a unique recipe, formula, or manufacturing process, that gives one person or company an advantage over their competition. Trade secret law gives the owner the right to maintain the confidentiality of such information and to take legal action against anyone who uses or discloses this information without permission. In Delaware, trade secret protection is governed by the Delaware Uniform Trade Secrets Act.

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