Copyrights, patents and trademarks are different types of intellectual property.
- A patent is granted to an inventor to prevent others from using their invention, process, or design for a designated period.
- Copyright protects original creative works like writing, music, software and art.
- A trademark is a word, phrase design, or a combination of those that identifies your goods or services.
In the United States, the Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) grants patents and registers trademarks, while the U.S. Copyright Office registers copyrights.