What is the difference between a patent, a copyright, and a trademark?

A patent, copyright, and trademark are three distinct forms of intellectual property protection. A patent is a legal document that grants a person or entity exclusive rights to make, use, and sell an invention for a certain period of time. In the United States, patents are issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Patents protect inventions such as machines, processes, manufactured goods, and chemical compositions. A copyright is a legal document that grants the holder the exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, and create derivative works based on a creative work such as a book, song, photograph, or film. Copyright protection is granted by the U.S. Copyright Office and exists even if an item is not registered. A trademark is a legal document that grants the holder the exclusive right to use a certain name, logo, or slogan to identify a product or service. A trademark allows the public to know what company produces a product and helps to protect the company’s reputation and brand. Trademarks are issued by the USPTO. In summary, a patent protects inventions, a copyright protects creative works, and a trademark protects symbols and branding. All three of these forms of intellectual property protection are important for protecting ideas and giving owners exclusive rights to their works.

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What is the difference between a patent, a copyright, and a trademark?

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