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

Patents, copyrights, and trademarks are all forms of intellectual property law. They are all used to protect authors, inventors, and owners of creative works, products, and services from unauthorized use. A patent is a type of intellectual property which grants the inventor exclusive rights to make, use, and sell an invention for a set period of time. Patents are regulated by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. A patent can only be granted to an invention which is novel, useful, and non-obvious, meaning that it must be something that is not already in use or ownership. A copyright is a form of intellectual property which grants the author exclusive rights to reproduce, publish, and sell their original work. These rights are protected under the United States Copyright Office, and can only be granted to a work which is original and creative. Copyrights can last for the life of the author, plus 70 years. Finally, a trademark is a type of intellectual property which grants exclusive rights to a service or product, such as a company logo or slogan. These rights are regulated by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Trademarks can be granted for any mark that is distinctive and unique. Trademarks can be renewed indefinitely as long as the business remains in good standing. In summary, a patent grants exclusive rights to a novel invention, a copyright grants exclusive rights to an original work, and a trademark grants exclusive rights to a unique product or service. Each of these forms of intellectual property law is important for protecting the works, products, and services of authors, inventors, and business owners.

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

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