What is the difference between copyright and trademark law?

The difference between copyright and trademark law lies in the type of protection they offer and the purpose they serve. Copyright law protects a creator’s original expression of ideas as expressed in books, music, sculptures, paintings, and other works. Copyright protection gives the creator the exclusive right to make and sell copies of the work, create derivatives, and publicly perform or display the work. In the District of Columbia, copyright protection is available automatically upon the creation of a work, and lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years. On the other hand, trademark law is less concerned with protecting creative works and focuses instead on protecting brands and logos. A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol, or design associated with a product or service and used to differentiate it from similar products or services from competitors. A trademark distinguishes the product from its competitors and helps the public recognize the origin of the product. It is an effective way for businesses to protect their brand identity. In the District of Columbia, trademark law is governed by the Lanham Act and provides protection for registered trademarks for an indefinite period of time.

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