What is the difference between copyright and patent infringement?

Copyright and patent infringement are two distinct forms of intellectual property violations. Copyright infringement involves the unauthorized use of creative works such as books, music, movies, or artwork. It is a violation of the legal rights of the copyright holder, and can include reproducing, distributing, or publicly performing the copyrighted material without a license. Patent infringement is an illegal use of a patented invention, either by making, using, selling, or offering to sell the invention within the United States without authorization from the patent holder. This includes using or selling the patented invention, even if the invention was independently created. Both types of infringement are punishable under the laws of Washington and the United States. Copyright infringement is generally a civil matter, and can result in an order to stop the unauthorized use or in damages to the copyright holder. Patent infringement is a criminal matter and can result in fines and even jail time. In summary, copyright infringement involves the unauthorized use of creative works, while patent infringement involves the unauthorized use of a patented invention. Although they are both punishable under the law, they each have different consequences depending on the severity of the violation.

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What is the difference between copyright and patent infringement?

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