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.
Trademark
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.
Copyright
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.
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