What is the difference between a copyright and a trademark?

A copyright and a trademark are two different types of intellectual property rights that are important to many businesses and individuals in California. A copyright is a type of legal protection which applies to literary, musical, and artistic works. It gives the creator or owner of the work the exclusive right to make copies, licenses, and to receive payment for the use of the work. A trademark is a type of legal protection which applies to words, designs, or symbols used to identify a particular company or its products. It gives the owner of the trademark the exclusive right to use it to distinguish their company or products from those of another. The key difference between a copyright and a trademark is that a copyright applies to creative works, while a trademark applies to businesses and their products or services. Copyrights protect original works of authorship, such as books, scripts, sound recordings, artwork, and photographs. A trademark provides the exclusive right to use a name, symbol, or design to distinguish the products of one business from those of another. It is often used to protect brands and logos. In California, it is important to understand the differences between copyrights and trademarks when seeking protection for your work or business. Copyrights are provided under federal law, while trademarks are issued by the Secretary of State of California. It is also important to know that copyrights last for the life of the author plus seventy years, while trademarks can last forever as long as they remain in use.

Related FAQs

What do entertainment lawyers do?
What is a licensing agreement?
What are the legal requirements for a celebrity endorsement agreement?
Are there laws to protect performers?
What is a joint venture agreement?
What is a digital music agreement, and what are its legal requirements?
What is a release form, and what are its legal requirements?
What are the legal requirements for an entertainment industry agreement?
What is a co-publishing agreement?
What is a video game development agreement, and what are its legal requirements?

What is the difference between a copyright and a trademark?

Related FAQs

Related Blog Posts