What’s the Difference Between Copyright and Trademark?

Quick answer: Copyright protects creative works such as literature, music, images, film, and software — protecting the actual content created. Trademark protects a name, logo, or slogan used to distinguish one business’s products/services from another’s — protecting brand identity in the market. A business usually needs both for different aspects of its products.

Quick Comparison Table

Criteria	Copyright	Trademark
Protects what	Creative works (text, images, code…)	Name, logo, slogan identifying a brand
When it takes effect	Automatically once the work is created	Only once successfully registered with the USPTO
Duration of protection	Author’s life + 70 years	Indefinite if continuously used and renewed
Governing body (US)	US Copyright Office	USPTO

A Real-World Example

The Nike logo, name, and the slogan “Just Do It” are protected by Trademark. The content of an ad, a tutorial video, or an original product photo from Nike is protected by Copyright. When selling on Amazon, a seller needs to be mindful of both — avoiding infringing someone else’s trademark when naming a product, and avoiding copyright infringement when using images/content that isn’t their own.