What are the Differences Among Trademarks, Copyrights and Patents?
They all are generally described as intellectual property or intangible property because they are property rights that cannot be touched or felt like personal property (car) or real property (land). However, the terms have different meanings and define different things. A Trademark (designated by such symbols as , , SM) protects a word, phrase, symbol and/or design used with a product or service on the market. A trademark is often referred to as a brand. Trademark rights may continue indefinitely, as long as the mark is neither abandoned by the trademark owner nor loses its significance in the marketplace as a trademark by becoming a generic term. Copyright (designated by the symbol ) protects the way an idea is expressed, not the idea itself. It includes artistic, literary, dramatic or musical works fixed in a tangible medium of expression such as a book, photograph, choreographic score or movie. Copyright ownership provides a bundle of rights that are exclusive to the owner of the co
