What is the difference between a patent and a copyright?

A patent and a copyright are both forms of intellectual property protection. However, they serve very different purposes. A patent grants the holder exclusive rights to make, use and sell an invention, such as a new type of computer software or a new chemical process. Patents can also be used to protect the design of a new product, or even a new strain of plant or animal. A copyright, on the other hand, grants the holder exclusive rights to reproduce, publish, and perform a work of art, such as a piece of music. A copyright also protects the specific way the work is expressed, such as the score for a piece of music or the specific language used in a book. In New Hampshire, patents are granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, while copyrights are granted by the U.S. Copyright Office. Patents last up to 20 years after they are issued, while copyrights can last for the life of the author plus 70 years. Patents and copyrights both provide legal protection for their respective holders, but they provide very different forms of protection. A patent protects an innovation or invention, while a copyright protects the expression of a creative work.

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What is the difference between a patent and a copyright?

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