The Difference Between Trademark, Patent and Copyright

So many people have a YouTube channel. Basically, creating a YouTube account means that you already have a channel, even if you don’t upload anything to it. People often have problems with the legal terms when they start their channels and get copyright claims, not to mention a strike. These things sound important and to an extent, they are. 

Betway, for example, is a trademark. People completing a Betway Registration often have no idea that it is a trademark, even though they have both heard the term trademark, as well as the name of the site they are registering on. 

Since these legal terms can be very confusing, following is an explanation of the differences between trademark, copyright and patent. 

Trademark

You have seen this on multiple sites, especially relatively novel ones, which have to state that their brand name and other brand-related words are trademarks. Trademarks are used to mark specific words, slogans, colors, shapes, marks and even batches of sound. People who have the rights to a trademark often have exclusive rights, meaning that nobody else can use their trademark unless given specific permission. What this also means is that the owners of the trademark also have the rights to sell their trademark at any point, for compensation, of course. Trademarks last for 10 years and after 10 years, they need to be reapplied. They also need to be applied in every country that the brand might have a market in. Shortly, trademarks are brand elements which makes your product or service different to that of your competitor.

Copyright

Copyright is used to protect intellectual properties as well as creative work and original work. The authors of the work are granted protection by giving them the rights to distribute, sell and license their work, online and offline. Whether that work is audio or visual, they are entitled to the work’s profit and sales. Copyright is used to protect works such as books, music, movies, photographs, drawings, paintings, architectures, performance, maps, sketches, plans and many more things that fall under creative work, such as video games. The rights are valid upon registration until the author’s death and 60 years after. This is valid in most countries in the world and a single registration is necessary if one wants to copyright their work.

Patent

Patents are amazing because they have everything to do with inventions. Inventions which can be patented are those which are original, or if they lead in a novel direction or have some application in industry. Patents are valid within a certain territory, like a certain country. They last for 20 years and after that, they go into the public domain. When you patent something, it gives you exclusive rights to it, meaning that you are the only one who can earn from it and distribute it, but it works only on a per country basis. 

Which One do You Need?

This is the right question that can be answered simply by asking yourself what you have created. Whether it is an invention, something creative, or a slogan for your new site, podcast or even a business, you can choose the right term and the right way to protect what is yours. Trademarks protect words and slogans, short musical intros, and jingles, copyright protects intellectual property while patents protect inventions. 

Depending on the country you live in, you should check with local law specialists to see which one works best for you and whether there are any extra steps you need to do in order to protect your work. 

With this, the differences between copyright, patent and trademark should be clear.