What is the difference between a trademark, copyright, and patent?

These three types of intellectual property protection serve different purposes:

Trademark: Protects brand identifiers — names, logos, slogans, and other symbols that distinguish goods or services in the marketplace. Examples: the Nike swoosh, "Just Do It," the Apple logo. Duration: Can last indefinitely as long as the mark is used in commerce and renewals are filed. Registration is with the USPTO.

Copyright: Protects original creative works — books, music, art, software code, photographs, films, and other creative expressions. Copyright exists automatically upon creation, but registration with the U.S. Copyright Office provides additional legal protections. Duration: Generally the author's life plus 70 years.

Patent: Protects inventions and discoveries — new processes, machines, compositions of matter, or designs. Requires a formal application to the USPTO and examination. Duration: Utility patents last 20 years from the filing date; design patents last 15 years from grant date.

Key distinction: Trademarks protect brand identity, copyrights protect creative expression, and patents protect inventive concepts. A single product might involve all three: a patented technology, copyrighted software code, and a trademarked brand name.