Patent:

     A patent is a Government grant of a property right to an inventor for a “process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or improvement thereof.” 35 U.S.C. § 101.

     The right conferred by the patent includes the right to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling the patented invention in the territory of the granting Government. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is the granting authority in the United States.

 

Trademark:

     A trademark/servicemark is a word, phrase, symbol, and/or design that is used in commerce to identify and distinguish the source of the goods or services. An example that many people may be familiar with is Band-Aid, a trademark indicating the source/manufacturer as Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc., whereas alternative sources of similar products are referred to as “Adhesive Bandages.” A trademark/servicemark that has been registered with the USPTO will be followed by “®.”

 

Copyright:

     Copyright grants the author/creator the exclusive right to make copies of a creative work, but it is limited to the “expressive” content. Copyrights are secured through a division of the Library of Congress.