Trademark vs. Copyright: A Simple Comparison
Founders often ask: "Should I copyright my logo or trademark it?" The answer depends on what you want to protect.
1. Trademark (The Business Identifier)
- Purpose: Protects things that identify your source of goods or services.
- What it covers: Brand names, logos, slogans, even sounds or smells.
- Validity: 10 years (Renewable forever).
- Symbol: TM or ®.
2. Copyright (The Creative Expression)
- Purpose: Protects original works of authorship.
- What it covers: Artistic designs, website content, software code, books, music, and videos.
- Validity: Lifetime of author + 60 years.
- Symbol: ©.
3. When you need BOTH
If you have a complex, artistic logo, you should trademark the brand name/logo for business protection and copyright the artistic design to prevent someone from copying the specific drawing.
| Feature | Trademark | Copyright | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Protects | Brand Identity | Creative Works | | Duration | 10 Years | Lifetime + 60 yrs | | Registration | Registry of Trademarks | Copyright Office | | Search required | Yes (Class-wise) | No |