Copyright

Categories: Regulations

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.

Related or Semi-related Video

Finance: What are trademark v copyright?12 Views

00:00

finance a la shmoop what's the difference between a trademark and a

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copyright all right well here's that little TM thingy for trademark or an R [Trademark and registered trademark symbols appear]

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in a circle for registered trademark and here's that little C thing for copyright

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so there's a starter the letters and well the artwork are different both are

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assets if a company owns them shmansi assets called intellectual property

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trademarks and copyrights are basically legal boats like the mode around a [Man discussing trademarks and copyrights]

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castle filled with sharks in the human crap nobody else can use those

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trademarks and/or copyrights without permission and that permission usually [Permission slip appears]

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comes with a check written from the user to the company who owns them so that's

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how they're the same but what about how are they different mm-hmm all right well

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here's the quick and dirty answer copyrights protect artistic or written

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work trademarks protect goods and services if it's a copyright you want [Trademark definition appears on dollar bill]

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well you'll register for one through the US Copyright Office you know them well

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here at shmoop or if a trademark is more what you're after you'd hop on over to

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the u.s. trademark office so your manifesto on the importance of brushing [Manifesto appears]

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your teeth yeah you'll want to copyright that maybe actually invented a new

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toothpaste that makes your breath smell fresh like strawberries yeah trademark [Strawberry toothpaste appears]

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that wrote a new piece of music you're hoping to sell on iTunes

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yeah copyright that pedaling your new music software trademark okay yeah so

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well let's come back to shmoop what about us our world-beating learning [Shmoop video appears]

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guides and courses our original written material so yeah we copyright them

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but our snazzy logo and the company itself yeah trademarked there now you

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speak copyright but we still speak student

Find other enlightening terms in Shmoop Finance Genius Bar(f)