What is the difference between copyright and design protection?

Copyright and design protection are both important types of intellectual property law in California. Copyright protects the rights of authors, artists, and people who create intellectual property. Copyrights give authors the exclusive right to reproduce, publish, and perform their creative work. Design protection is a form of intellectual property law that protects the appearance and design of products. It is designed to give creators exclusive rights to the appearance of certain items and designs. At a basic level, copyright law provides authors with the exclusive right to reproduce, display, and distribute their creative works. This protection generally applies to artistic works, like books, music, and movies. Design protection, on the other hand, provides creators with exclusive rights to the design of products, such as furniture and clothing. This protection works to protect creators from the unauthorized use of their original designs. The major difference between copyright and design protection is that copyright law applies to original works of authorship, whereas design protection applies to the appearance of products. Copyright also has a longer duration than design protection. Copyrights generally last for the lifetime of the author, plus an additional 70 years. Design protection generally lasts for 10 to 15 years. Overall, copyright and design protection are both important forms of intellectual property law in California. Copyright law provides authors with exclusive rights to reproduce, display, and distribute their creative works. Design protection is designed to protect creators from the unauthorized use of their original designs. The major difference between them is that copyright applies to original works of authorship while design protection applies to the appearance of products.

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