© 2011 Apptivo Inc.
All rights reserved.
Inventing New Products – What is the difference
between Patents, Copyrights, Trademark, and Trade
Secrets
If you have just invented a product, created a work of art or have developed a new process, you
probably...
More
© 2011 Apptivo Inc.
All rights reserved.
Inventing New Products – What is the difference
between Patents, Copyrights, Trademark, and Trade
Secrets
If you have just invented a product, created a work of art or have developed a new process, you
probably know that you need to protect your creation.
But what is it to be – patents, copyrights or
trademarks? It can all be a bit confusing.
It’s easiest to determine what it is you need by
understanding what each does.
Let’s look at each and see how they can benefit you and your
business.
Patents – A patent can protect your inventions.
For example Velcro has a patent.
Patent
provides exclusive rights to make, use, import, sell and offer for sale the invention for up
to 20 years.
There are three types of patents:
Utility Patents – protect useful processes, machines, articles of manufacture, and
compositions of matter.
Examples: fiber optics, computer hardware, medications.
Design Patents – guard the unauthorized use of new, original,
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