What is the difference between a copyright and a patent?

A copyright and a patent are two different types of intellectual property laws in Washington State. A copyright is a form of protection provided by the law to authors, artists, and other creators of original works. It gives the copyright holder exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, and display their work. This means that other people cannot use or copy the work without the copyright holder’s permission. A patent is a form of protection provided by law to inventors. Patent holders are given exclusive rights to make, use, and sell their invention for a specific period of time. Patents are typically used to protect a new invention or process that has a certain functionality. In summary, the difference between a copyright and a patent is that copyrights protect original works of authorship and patents protect new inventions or processes. Copyrights protect the form of expression such as books, music, and other creative works. Patents protect the functionality of an invention or process and provide the inventor with exclusive rights to make, use, and sell their invention.

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