What is the difference between a copyright, trademark, and servicemark?
A trademark is a word, name, symbol or device that is used in trade with goods. It indicates the source of the goods while distinguishing them from the goods of others. A servicemark is the same as a trademark except that it identifies the source of a service rather than a product. So, you would want to seek a trademark for a logo or product name. And you’d want to seek a servicemark for any original service you provide that you don’t want another company to replicate, such as a unique delivery method. The purpose of a copyright is to protect works of authorship as fixed in a tangible form of expression. The purpose of a trademark is to protect words, phrases and logos used in commerce to identify the source of goods and/or services. If you are interested in protecting a title, slogan, or phrase, generally you want a trademark. Copyright Law does not protect a bare phrase, slogan or trade name.
