What is the difference between a copyright and a trademark?

The difference between a copyright and a trademark is a matter of law in California. A copyright is a form of intellectual property that protects original works of authorship, such as books, writings, music, and artwork. A copyright gives the author the exclusive right to reproduce or distribute the work, and to make derivative works. The copyright term in California is the life of the author, plus 70 years. A trademark, on the other hand, is a form of intellectual property that protects a business’s brand name, logo, or slogan. A trademark is used to identify the source of goods or services, and to distinguish them from those of others. A trademark also can protect trade dress, which is the overall look and feel of a product, business, or service. Trademarks give businesses exclusive rights to use the mark in a particular state, and Federal registration lasts 10 years, but can be renewed indefinitely. In summary, copyright law gives authors the exclusive right to reproduce and distribute their works, while trademark law gives businesses exclusive rights to use their brands for commercial purposes. Both copyrights and trademarks are forms of intellectual property, and are regulated by the state and Federal government.

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