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

A trademark, patent, and copyright are all types of intellectual property (IP) rights that protect creative ideas, inventions, and work. However, they are different from one another. A trademark is a type of IP right that is used to protect brands, logos, and slogans. It is unique to a company and serves as an identifier for consumers. In New York, trademarks are generally registered through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and are valid for 10 years. Patents are a type of IP right that protect inventions. Patents are granted by the USPTO to give the inventor exclusive rights to the invention. Patents in New York are valid for 20 years and can be extended in certain circumstances. Finally, copyrights are a type of IP right that are used to protect creative works like books, music, and artwork. Copyright laws in New York provide the creator of the work exclusive rights to reproduce or display the work. Copyrights also last for the life of the author plus 70 years. In summary, a trademark protects brands and logos, a patent protects inventions, and a copyright protects creative works. Each of these IP rights offers different benefits and is valid for different periods of time.

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