Copyright

Well here’s that little ™ thing for "trademark"...or an "R" in a circle for “registered trademark.”

And then there's a little "c" in a circle...which indicates a copyright.

So, for starters, the letters and formatting are different. Both are assets if a company owns them. Fancy-shmancy assets called intellectual property.

Trademarks and copyrights are basically legal moats companies build around their castle. Nobody else can use them without permission...and that permission usually comes with a check.

So that’s how they’re the same. What’s different?

Here’s the quick and dirty answer: copyrights protect artistic or written work…while trademarks protect goods or services.

If it’s a copyright you want, you’ll register for one through the U.S. Copyright Office. Or, if a trademark is more what you’re after, you’d hop on over to the U.S. Trademark Office.

So…your manifesto on the importance of brushing your teeth? You’ll want a copyright.

Actually invented a new toothpaste that makes your breath smell like fresh strawberries? Trademark.

Wrote a new piece of music you’re hoping to sell on iTunes? Copyright.

Peddling your new music software? Trademark.

Okay, so...what about Shmoop? Well, our world-beating learning guides and courses are original, written material, so...copyright.

But our snazzy logo, and the company itself? Trademarked.

There. Now you, uh…speak copyright.