What is the difference between a copyright and a patent?

Copyright and patent law both provide legal protections for intellectual property. A copyright is a legal protection for original works of authorship such as books, music, art, and photography. It gives the author exclusive legal rights to reproduce, distribute, and publicly display their work. Copyrights expire after a certain amount of time and can be renewed. A patent, on the other hand, is a legal protection for new inventions or products. It gives the inventor exclusive rights to manufacture and sell the invention. This can include anything from a new type of technology to a new type of computer program. Patents last for a much longer period of time and can be renewed. The main difference between these two types of intellectual property protection is the kind of property being protected. Copyrights protect creative works, while patents protect inventions. Both types of protection are important for protecting a person’s intellectual property and preventing others from taking credit for their work. In California, copyright and patent law are both governed by the federal government.

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