Patents and copyrights are two ways to protect your intellectual property. However, they work very differently and apply to different types of IP, so it is crucial that you understand which one you need.
A patent is generally used for a technical invention. Someone may have invented a complex piece of machinery, a mechanical process, a pharmaceutical drug or a chemical composition. This is a unique, new development, and they patent it to ensure that they have the right to produce and sell it to consumers. They do have to demonstrate that it is a novel invention and that it has not already been patented by someone else.
What is a copyright?
A copyright is similar, but it generally applies to creative works, rather than technical inventions. These works can be literary, intellectual or artistic.
For instance, a musician is going to have a copyright on a song or an album that they wrote, while a novelist is going to copyright their published works and collections. They have not developed a new technology, but they have created a unique artistic product, and they do not want anyone else to be able to copy it, use it or profit from it without their express permission.
Protecting your intellectual property
Patents and copyrights are just two ways to protect intellectual property, and many companies also want to consider trademarks to protect words, phrases, logos, designs, color schemes and other identifying marks that prevent consumer confusion. No matter what type of IP protection you need, it can be helpful to work with an experienced attorney to protect your rights.