What is the difference between copyright and patent protection?

Copyright and patent protection are two different types of Intellectual Property (IP) protections in Washington State. Copyright is a form of protection that applies to original ideas, works of art, music, literature, software, and other forms of creative expression. In the United States, copyright protection is provided for fixed, tangible expressions of creative ideas, but not for the ideas in themselves. This means that copyright applies to the expression of a creative idea but not to the underlying concept. Patent protection, on the other hand, applies to inventions that are novel, useful and non-obvious. Patents provide the exclusive right to make, use, sell, and import the invention. In other words, patent protection provides a monopoly over the invention, meaning that no one else can make, use, sell, or import the invention without the patent owner’s permission. Patents last for a limited period of time and are generally issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). In summary, copyright is a form of protection that applies to original works of art, music, literature, software, and other forms of creative expression, while patent protection applies to inventions that are novel, useful, and non-obvious. Copyright does not cover ideas in themselves, while patent protection does cover the underlying concept and provides a monopoly for the patent owner.

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What is the difference between copyright and patent protection?

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