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Home | Trademarks, Patents & Copyrights | Help Me Compare

Trademark vs Copyright Protection


Trademarks and copyrights are both issued by the federal government and protect two distinct types of intellectual property. Here are some key differences.
A Trademark protects names, terms or symbols that are used to identify the products of a certain manufacturer or company. This includes brand names such as "Coca-Cola" and images such as Nike's famous "swoosh." As a trademark owner, you can sue for trademark infringement in federal court and prevent others from importing foreign goods that display your trademark.
Click here to start a Trademark.

A Copyright protects original creative works such as books, movies, songs, paintings, photographs, websites and choreography. As a copyright owner, you can control how your work is reproduced, distributed and presented publicly.
Click here to start a Copyright.

Trademarks

Trademarks Protect:
  • Company, brand, or product names
  • Logos and other marks used to identify a company or product
  • Company taglines and catch phrases such as "just do it."
Copyrights

Copyrights Protect:
  • Books, articles, websites, and other written content
  • Paintings, photographs, and other visual works
  • Songs, movies, television shows and ads
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