Types of intellectual property protections
The main categories of IP protection.
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Three types of IP protection
Copyright, patent, and trademark compared.
Copyright
- Protects original forms of expression
- Books, art, music, software, films
- Duration: life + 70 years (individuals)
- 95 years for corporate works
- Automatic on creation
Patent
- Protects the ideas behind an invention
- Machines, products, compositions, processes
- Duration: 20 years
- Requires formal USPTO application
- Cannot patent laws of nature or abstract ideas
Trademark
- Protects brand names, symbols, colors, sounds
- Distinguishes goods/services
- Duration: 10 years, renewable indefinitely
- Requires use in interstate commerce
- Registered with USPTO
There are three main types of IP protection. Copyright protects original forms of expression (books, art, music, software) for life plus 70 years for individuals and 95 years for corporate works. Patent protects the ideas behind an invention (machines, products, compositions, processes) for 20 years, granted by the USPTO. Trademark protects brand names, symbols, sounds or colors that distinguish goods, granted for 10 years and renewable indefinitely.
Explanation: There are three main types of IP protection. Copyright protects original forms of expression (books, art, music, software) for life plus 70 years for individuals and 95 years for corporate works. Patent protects the ideas behind an invention (machines, products, compositions, processes) for 20 years, granted by the USPTO. Trademark protects brand names, symbols, sounds or colors that distinguish goods, granted for 10 years and renewable indefinitely.