What is the difference between copyright and design protection?

Copyright and design protection are two different forms of intellectual property law in South Carolina. The main difference between the two lies in the type of creative work being protected. Copyright protects the creative expression of ideas, such as authorship of books, music, and artwork. Copyright law grants exclusive rights of reproduction, distribution, and display to the creator of the work for a limited amount of time. This means that only the creator, or someone authorized by the creator, is allowed to make copies, display, or distribute the work. Design protection differs from copyright in that it protects the appearance of a product, including the shape, pattern, and features. Design protection does not protect the function of the product, such as how it works, just its aesthetics. The purpose of design protection is to prevent competitors from copying a design that has a unique style or look. Design protection gives the creator exclusive rights to use the design for a limited amount of time, just as copyright does. Both copyright and design protection are important forms of intellectual property law in South Carolina, and they both offer creators exclusive rights to their creative works. The main difference between copyright and design protection lies in the type of creative work each is meant to protect.

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