Can I copyright an invention?

In California, an invention can be protected through patent law rather than copyright law. A patent grants the inventor exclusive rights to make, use, and sell the invention for a set period of time. In the U.S., patents are issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. In general, copyright law protects creative works such as books, movies, music, and art. It does not protect ideas. Since an invention is a product of an idea, it does not qualify for copyright protection. In order to obtain a patent in California, you must file a patent application with the US Patent and Trademark Office, and await approval. To qualify, the invention must be useful, novel, and non-obvious. The invention must also demonstrate that it was created independently. With a patent, you are provided legal protection and exclusive rights to market and make your invention. Without a patent, your invention is not legally protected and could be copied and sold without your authorization. In conclusion, if you invent something in California, you can obtain legal protection by filing for a patent, but not by using copyright law.

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