Software Licencing And Copyright Questions Medium
Copyright and patent are both forms of intellectual property protection, but they differ in terms of what they protect and how long the protection lasts.
Copyright is a legal right granted to the creator of an original work, such as a book, song, or software. It provides exclusive rights to the creator to reproduce, distribute, display, perform, and modify their work. Copyright protection automatically applies as soon as the work is created and lasts for the lifetime of the creator plus an additional 70 years after their death. Copyright protects the expression of an idea, not the idea itself.
On the other hand, a patent is a legal right granted to an inventor for a new and useful invention or process. It provides exclusive rights to the inventor to make, use, sell, or import their invention for a limited period of time, usually 20 years from the date of filing the patent application. Patents protect the underlying idea or concept behind an invention, rather than its specific expression.
In summary, copyright protects original works of authorship, while patents protect new and useful inventions. Copyright protects the expression of an idea, while patents protect the idea itself. Copyright protection is automatic and lasts for a long period of time, while patent protection requires a formal application process and has a limited duration.