What is the difference between copyright and patent protection?

Copyright and patent protection are two different types of intellectual property law that aim to protect different forms of property. Copyright protection protects an artist’s original works of art, such as books, music, movies, paintings, sculptures, choreography, and architecture. Copyright protection is given to the artist who created the work automatically. This includes the right to reproduce, perform, and display the work. Patent protection is the exclusive right granted by the state of North Carolina to the creator of an invention that allows the inventor to exclude all others from making, selling, or using the invention for a period of 20 years. Patent protection covers a wide range of items including machines, pharmaceuticals, processes, and compositions of matter. The key difference between copyright and patent protection is that copyrights protect original works of art from being copied or used without permission and patents protect inventions from being made or used without permission. Copyright protection lasts for the life of the artist plus 70 years, while patent protection lasts for 20 years from the date of the patent.

Related FAQs

What is the difference between an invention and a discovery?
What is copyright law?
How do I design a trademark that is distinctive?
What is the copyright registration process?
What are the different types of patents?
What is trade dress infringement?
What is the Digital Media Copyright Act?
How do I protect my intellectual property overseas?
What is the protection afforded by a trademark?
What is the difference between copyright and design protection?

What is the difference between copyright and patent protection?

Related FAQs

Related Blog Posts