What is the difference between copyright and intellectual property?

The difference between copyright and intellectual property is that copyright is a form of intellectual property that grants an individual the exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, display, or perform a work that has been created by that person. Copyright, as it exists under federal law in Washington, also protects the "expression" of an idea, not just the idea itself. Intellectual property, on the other hand, is any form of intangible asset or invention that is created by an individual or organization that has a legal claim over it. Intellectual property includes copyrights, trademarks, patents, and trade secrets. Copyright law in Washington gives creators exclusive rights to their work. This means that once a work is created, the creator has the exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, display, or perform the work. A copyright also prevents others from claiming ownership over the work or from creating derivative works from the original work. Intellectual property can be a combination of many things, including copyrights, trademarks, patents, and trade secrets. A trademark is an exclusive right to a name, phrase, logo, or symbol. A patent is a form of protection that allows an inventor to prevent others from using, making, or selling the invention. Trade secrets are confidential formulas, processes, or technologies that businesses use to gain a competitive advantage. A copyright is a specific form of intellectual property, but it is only one of the many forms of intellectual property that a person may own.

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