What is the difference between a trademark and copyright?

The difference between a trademark and copyright can be explained in terms of what each protects. A trademark is a type of intellectual property law that protects logos, symbols, names, words, or a combination of all of these that are associated with a product or service. This type of law prevents other businesses from creating similar names, logos, or symbols that could be confused with the name or logo of the original business. In California, trademarks are protected by federal and state laws, and must be registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. A copyright, on the other hand, is a type of intellectual property law that protects creative or original works such as music, novels, movies, artwork, and photographs. This means that only the creator of the work can reproduce or distribute it without permission from the copyright holder. Copyright protection is automatic in California and does not require the creator to register the work. In summary, the main differences between trademarks and copyrights are the type of intellectual property they protect and the legal requirements to obtain protection. Trademarks protect logos, symbols and associated words and require registration with the USPTO, while copyrights protect creative works and do not require registration for protection in California.

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What is the difference between a trademark and copyright?

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