What is the difference between copyright law and trademark law?

Copyright law and trademark law are two distinct types of intellectual property laws that protect different types of creative works. Copyright law is used to protect original works of authorship, such as literature, music, photographs and software. Copyright law grants the copyright owner exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, adapt, and publicly display the work. A copyright exists for a specific period of time, usually the life of the author plus 70 years, but this may vary depending on the jurisdiction. Trademark law, on the other hand, protects certain symbols, phrases, and logos that are used to identify and distinguish a product or service in the marketplace. A trademark does not expire, and may remain in effect indefinitely, as long as it is properly used and maintained. Trademarks are used to identify the source of goods and services and protect businesses from unauthorized use of their trademarks. In North Carolina, copyright and trademark laws are governed by the United States Copyright Act and the Lanham Act, respectively. These two bodies of law allow North Carolina businesses to protect their intellectual property by obtaining copyright and trademark protection. This helps ensure that businesses have exclusive rights to their creative works, and that their trademarks are protected from unauthorized use.

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