Copyright vs. Trademark — What's the Difference?

Copyright is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the exclusive right to make copies of a creative work, usually for a limited time. The creative work may be in a literary, artistic, educational, or musical form.

A trademark (also written trade mark or trade-mark) is a type of intellectual property consisting of a recognizable sign, design, or expression which identifies products or services of a particular source from those of others, although trademarks used to identify services are usually called service marks. The trademark owner can be an individual, business organization, or any legal entity.

The legal right granted to an author, composer, playwright, publisher, or distributor to exclusive publication, production, sale, or distribution of a literary, musical, dramatic, or artistic work.

A symbol, word, or words legally registered or established by use as representing a company or product.

Of or relating to a copyright

Provide with a trademark

Protected by copyright

Abbr. TM A name, symbol, or other device used to identify and promote a product or service, especially an officially registered name or symbol that is thereby protected against use by others.

To secure a copyright for.

A distinctive characteristic by which a person or thing comes to be known

(uncountable) The right by law to be the entity which determines who may publish, copy and distribute a piece of writing, music, picture or other work of authorship.

To label (a product) with proprietary identification.

(countable) Such an exclusive right as it pertains to one or more specific works.

To register (something) as a trademark.

A violation of copyright law; copyright infringement.

A word, symbol, or phrase used to identify a particular company's product and differentiate it from other companies' products.

To obtain or secure a copyright for some literary or other artistic work.

Any proprietary business, product or service name.

The right of an author or his assignee, under statute, to print and publish his literary or artistic work, exclusively of all other persons. This right may be had in maps, charts, engravings, plays, and musical compositions, as well as in books.

The aspect for which someone or something is best known; a hallmark or typical characteristic.

To secure a copyright on.

(proscribed) To register something as a trademark.

A document granting exclusive right to publish and sell literary or musical or artistic work

(proscribed) To so label a product.

Secure a copyright on a written work;

(informal) Distinctive, characteristic, signature.

A distinctive characteristic or attribute

A formally registered symbol identifying the manufacturer or distributor of a product