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Published by sk716 on 2009/11/21 (647 reads)

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Copyright  |  Trademark  |  Spotting a Fraud | Colleen Doran
Copyright & Trademark
What's the difference between Copyright and Trademark?

Copyright protects intellectual property such as:  music, lyrics, scripts, works of art, literature, and even in some cases architectural design.
Trademark protects logos and identifying designs.
Copyright
For more detailed information please visit the U.S. Copyright office website page on copyright basics.

  • No publication or registration or other action in the Copyright Office is required to secure copyright.
  • Copyright protection subsists from the time the work is created in fixed form.


So why pay for the registration?

  • If registration is made within 3 months after publication of the work or prior to an infringement of the work, statutory damages and attorney's fees will be available to the copyright owner in court actions.


That's why.  Registration is not necessary, but it does have its perk.  If you would like to register your copyright, you may do so here.
Trademark
For more detailed information please visit the U.S. Patent and Trademark office (USPTO) website page on trademark basics.

  • A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol or design, or a combination of words, phrases, symbols or designs, that identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods of one party from those of others.
  • A service mark is the same as a trademark, except that it identifies and distinguishes the source of a service rather than a product.

Does it have to be registered? Nope.  A trademark is a lot like a copyright.

  • Any time you claim rights in a mark, you may use the "TM" (trademark) or "SM" (service mark) designation to alert the public to your claim, regardless of whether you have filed an application with the USPTO.

If you would like to register your trademark, you may do so online at the USPTO website.

Related pages

How to Spot a Fraud

The following description comes from a bank in the UK, which distributed a handout to its employees as part of a staff training program. Common Features of a Fraudster Dictator Promiser Bearer of gifts Charmer Entertainer Never there Excessively secretive ...