What is the difference between a patent and a copyright?

Patents and copyrights are forms of intellectual property law in Washington with different protections and requirements. A patent grants a person exclusive rights to an invention for a set period of time. In order to get a patent, an invention must be new, useful, and not obvious. Patent protection does not cover ideas but does cover what is actually made or produced from the idea. An example of a patent would be a new invention such as a new type of car. On the other hand, a copyright protects the expression of an idea rather than the idea itself. A copyright limits others from making copies of an original creative expression, such as a book, song, film, or artwork. A copyright gives the creator of the work the right to decide who can reproduce, distribute, and make money off of the work. An example of a copyright would be a novel that an author wrote. In conclusion, patents and copyrights are both forms of intellectual property law in Washington, but they protect very different things. A patent protects an invention while a copyright protects the expression of an idea. Patents require new, useful, and non-obvious inventions while copyrights do not. Overall, patents and copyrights are important forms of protection for inventors and creators.

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What is the difference between a patent and a copyright?

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