What Is the Difference Between a Copyright and a Patent?

Few tools are more important to businesses and individuals who want to protect their individual works than copyrights and patents. Though they protect two different types of intellectual property, they are both equally important to understand. Please continue reading and reach out to Lemler IP to learn more about the difference between a copyright and a patent and how a knowledgeable Orleans Parish, Louisiana intellectual property lawyer can help you get one. Here are some of the questions you may have:

What is a copyright?

A copyright is a legal document that provides protection from infringement to authors, composers, and other creators of original works. Copyrights can protect poems, illustrations, photographs, songs, and much more. When someone formally copyrights their work with the U.S. Copyright Office, they will have exclusive rights to reproduce and distribute their work, as well as the right to be identified as the author of the work and to receive financial compensation for the work. They will also have a legal right to create derivative works, to perform or display the work in public, and to give permission to others to do the same. Once someone has their work copyrighted, they will maintain exclusive rights to the work until they die and for 70 years after.

What is a patent?

A patent is a legal document that provides protection to inventors or innovators who develop new, useful, and non-obvious inventions or processes. Once an inventor or innovator patents their work, they will have exclusive rights to the work for up to 20 years from the date the patent application was filed. This means that all others are excluded from making, selling, or using the invention without the explicit permission of the inventor for the duration of the patent’s existence.

In summary, copyrights protect original, creative works, while patents protect inventions and processes. If you would like to copyright or patent your intellectual property or would like assistance in managing your intellectual property portfolio, please don’t hesitate to contact Lemler IP today. Lemler IP has years of experience representing clients from all walks of life through a broad range of intellectual property matters, and the firm is ready to help you as well.