Patent Questions.

HotDog-Cart · Post by **HotDog-Cart** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 8:19 pm

Thats united states. I'm in Canada.

Also, that link only has info about trademarks....

I need to know the difference between Copyrights, and Patents.

EDIT: Patents protect IDEAS.
Copyright's protect Physical objects. (Like, if you made your idea into a physical object., you would copyright it. Example: Idea On paper: Radio would be protected by a patent. Idea made: Radio using plastic as a case, ect ect, would be protected by a Copyright.)

(Quoted from CIPO)
What is not protected by copyright?
Themes, ideas, most titles, names, catch-phrases and other short-word combinations of no real substance.

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 8:24 pm

HotDog-Cart wrote:Thats united states. I'm in Canada.

Also, that link only has info about trademarks....

I need to know the difference between Copyrights, and Patents.

There are links to pages that talk about copyrights and patents, I doubt Canada is that different from the US. You wanted to know the difference, not how to get one, so it should still apply the same in Canada.

HotDog-Cart · Post by **HotDog-Cart** » Tue Sep 11, 2007 8:25 pm

Check my post about Vs's.

bacteria · Post by **bacteria** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 1:40 am

Even if you get a patent, etc; you have to be able to defend it in a court of law; which means you have to have the funds, and financial backing and incentive, to fight to defend - otherwise, don't bother.

Post by **benheck** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 7:17 am

Fun fact, a trademark (TM) means something is in the process of becoming a (R) registered trademark.

From my experience, you can either do everything yourself, dot the I's, cross the T's, format it and send it in, or you can collect most of your data and have a patent attorney do the rest.

Think of it like doing your taxes yourself, or having H&R Block do it. Main difference is complexity and cost, but it's a decent analogy.

teraflop122 · Post by **teraflop122** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 11:28 am

Patents protect IDEAS. Copyright's protect Physical objects.

Noooo....

Patents protect "any new and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof." So, basically, physical objects of a particular design. *USEFUL*, meaning something which serves a purpose aside from looking pretty.

Patents cost money to make. Patents usually last between 10 and 20 years, depending on your location.

Copyrights protect "poems, theses, plays, and other literary works, movies, choreographic works (dances, ballets, etc.), musical compositions, audio recordings, paintings, drawings, sculptures, photographs, software, radio and television broadcasts of live and other performances..." So, basically... well, you can't really narrow it down any more.

According to the Berne Convention, copyrights are automatic. Once you write, compose, program something unique, you have the right to protect it. You needn't apply for a copyright, or do anything at all what-so-ever. The regulations of the Berne Convention are part of the World Trade Organization, so this holds true (nearly) everywhere. Copyrights usually last the lifetime of the creator, plus a certain duration (Lifetime + 50 years in the US, iirc)

To summarize; Patents protect physic objects and they cost money. Copyrights protect "ideas" and don't cost anything.

I'm curious, what have you come up with that you want to protect?