Difference between copyright and patent
The difference between copyrights and patents is the type of property they protect. Copyrights and patents are legal designations granted to intellectual property holders, designed to protect such property from being copied, sold or used in any way without owner authorization. Intellectual property can include inventions, certain types of discoveries, written or recorded work, paintings, drawings, plans, designs and other original creations and ideas.
Copyrights
A copyright protects intellectual property as described by the U.S. Copyright Office. Books, plays, music, software, artwork, architectural drawings, maps and similar works are all protected under copyright laws automatically by virtue of their creation. Registration of the work is recommended in the event the copyright is infringed upon or ownership is questioned, but is not necessary under United States and most international copyright laws.
Patents
A patent is a property grant issued to owners of intellectual property, as described by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, usually an invention or certain types of discoveries (mathematical equations and product formulas for example). Patents provide the patent owner “the right to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling the invention in the United States," according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
