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Provisional Patent |
Design Patent |
Copyright |
Trademark |
| Recommended For |
An invention with a function (such as a machine, manufactured item, process, or chemical composition) |
An ornamental design for a manufactured item that doesn't affect its function (such as a watch face plate) |
An original creative work (such as a play, novel, song, sculpture, photograph, choreography or architectural plan). |
A name, logo or symbol used to identify commercial goods or services. |
| Which federal office issues this protection? |
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office |
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office |
U.S. Copyright Office |
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office |
| How long can the benefit/ protection last? |
1 year |
14 years |
Lifetime of the author, plus 70 years. |
10 years
You can renew your trademark every ten years. |
| Where is this protection valid and enforceable?
|
Within the U.S. |
Within the U.S. |
Within the U.S. |
Within the U.S. |
| Are maintenance fees required?
|
Provisional Applications for Patent do not require a maintenance fee. |
Design Patents do not require a maintenance fee. |
Copyrights do not require a maintenance fee. |
Trademark protection does not require a maintenance fee.
To renew your trademark every 10 years, the government charges a fee. |
| Can I renew?
|
Provisional Applications for Patent are non-renewable. |
Design patents are non-renewable. |
Copyrights are non-renewable. |
Yes. Trademark protection is renewable every 10 years following the initial registration. |
| If I don't file an application, do I still have ownership rights?
|
Without a Provisional Application for Patent, you are not assured ownership.
Filing a Provisional Application is a first step toward securing ownership rights with a Non-Provisional Utility Patent. |
Without a Design Patent, you are not assured ownership. |
Without a registered copyright, you still own your creative work.
But with a registered copyright, your ownership can be legally verified and you can enforce federal copyright protection laws. |
Without registering your trademark, you can still use the mark.
But with a registered trademark, you have exclusive rights to use your mark, and you can enforce federal trademark protection. |
| Who typically applies for this protection?
|
Inventors |
Inventors |
Authors, artists, choreographers, and architects. |
Business or product owners. |
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