What is the difference between copyright and trademark?

Copyright and trademark are two distinct forms of intellectual property law that protect different types of works. Copyright law protects original works of authorship, such as books, music, literary works, and works of art. The rights associated with copyright law include the rights to reproduce, display, and distribute the works. The owner of the copyright has the right to control who gets access to the work, and how that work is used or changed. Trademark law protects words, symbols, designs, or phrases that are used to identify and distinguish the source of goods or services. Trademarks can be registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and trademark rights protect the goodwill associated with a company’s brand. Trademark law stops others from using similar marks in a way that might cause confusion about the source of the goods or services. In summation, the key difference between copyright and trademark is that copyright law is used to protect original works of authorship, while trademark law is used to protect words, symbols, designs, or phrases that identify and distinguish the source of goods or services. Copyright law provides exclusive rights to reproduce, display, and distribute works, while trademark law helps protect the goodwill associated with a company’s brand.

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