Trademark vs copyright vs patent. Three types, three protections.
Three of the four pillars of intellectual property protect fundamentally different things. Trademark protects brand identifiers (names, logos, slogans). Copyright protects original works of authorship (writing, code, art, music). Patent protects inventions (functional and ornamental). Trade secret (the fourth pillar) protects confidential business information. Choosing the right type and combining them appropriately matters.
Start here.
Brand identifiers. Word marks, logos, slogans, trade dress.
Original works of authorship. Writing, code, art, music, video.
Inventions. Functional (utility), ornamental (design), plant.
Confidential business information. Customer lists, formulas, processes.
Most products use multiple IP types: trademark on the brand, copyright on the manual, patent on the technology, trade secret on the supply chain.
The full picture.
What trademark protects
Words, logos, slogans, sounds, and trade dress used in commerce to identify goods or services. Examples: the Nike swoosh logo, the Coca-Cola word mark, McDonald's "I'm lovin' it" slogan. Federal registration via USPTO provides nationwide rights.
What copyright protects
Original works of authorship fixed in tangible medium. Software code, written content, photography, music, video, illustrations, design. Automatic on creation; registration with US Copyright Office strengthens enforcement.
What patent protects
Inventions: functional (utility), ornamental (design), plant. Pharmaceutical compounds, manufacturing processes, mechanical devices, design of products. USPTO grants after examination.
What trade secret protects
Confidential business information: customer lists, formulas (Coca-Cola formula), source code, business plans, processes. Protected by reasonable secrecy measures, not registration. Lasts indefinitely if kept secret.
Duration comparison
Trademark: indefinite with continued use and renewal. Copyright: life + 70 years (or 95/120 years for works for hire). Utility patent: 20 years from filing. Design patent: 15 years from grant. Trade secret: indefinite if kept secret.
Registration requirements
Trademark: optional but recommended; federal registration via USPTO. Copyright: automatic on creation; registration optional but opens up enforcement remedies. Patent: required; only granted patents provide protection. Trade secret: no registration; protect via reasonable measures.
Cost comparison
Trademark: $250-$1,500 federal application + USPTO fees ($250-$350/class). Copyright: $45-$125 registration. Utility patent: $10k-$30k+. Design patent: $3k-$8k.
Time to protection
Trademark: 8-14 months for US registration. Copyright: instant on creation; 3-9 months for registration. Utility patent: 18-30 months. Design patent: 12-18 months. Trade secret: instant if kept secret.
Combining IP types
Most products use multiple. Example product launch: company name and logo (trademark), website copy and product photos (copyright), proprietary algorithm (patent or trade secret), customer database (trade secret), product packaging design (design patent + trademark trade dress).
Choosing the right type
Branding goal: trademark. Original creative work: copyright. New invention: patent. Confidential business info: trade secret. Most IP strategies combine multiple types.
Common questions.
Can I trademark my book title?
Can I copyright a logo?
Can I patent an idea?
Should I trademark or copyright my product name?
What about my software?
Do I need all four?
Which has the longest protection?
What is fastest to get?
IP setup, done right.
Trademark filing, copyright registration, attorney-vetted IP assignment, and connection to specialty IP attorneys for patents.
This guide is educational. Specific IP decisions require professional legal advice.
How we deliver, end-to-end.
Four-step path from request to confirmation. State and IRS turnaround varies; our steps run in parallel where possible to compress the timeline.
Intake + scope
You tell us what you need through a short intake form (or a call for complex matters). We confirm scope, surface any gating issues (deadlines, missing documents, entity status), and quote any state fees that pass through at cost.
Prepare + verify
Our specialists draft the filing, verify entity details against state databases, run internal QA, and route any items needing your sign-off. You see drafts before anything gets submitted.
File with the authority
We submit directly to the state Secretary of State, FinCEN, IRS, USPTO, or whichever authority your filing requires. We pay state fees at cost and track the submission identifier in your account.
Confirmation + vault
Stamped certificate, IRS notice, or filing receipt arrives in your SOC 2 encrypted document vault the moment we receive it. Next filing deadline auto-added to your compliance calendar where applicable.
Built on the same infrastructure used by 220,000+ businesses.
SOC 2 Type II audited
Independent annual security audit covering access control, change management, incident response, and data handling. Current report on request.
All 51 US jurisdictions
Every state plus DC plus Puerto Rico - direct filings, not third-party reseller. We hold registered-agent qualifications in every state we operate.
Deadline guarantee
If we miss a filing deadline on a service you pay us to manage, we pay the state penalty. Specific to each plan and the filings it includes.
4.9 from 8,200+ verified reviews
Independently verified by Trustpilot + Google + our own NPS infrastructure. Customer success team within reach by email, chat, or phone.
60-day money-back promise
Change your mind in the first 60 days and we refund our service fee in full. State filing fees pass through at cost and are non-refundable once paid to the state.
E&O insured
Errors and omissions coverage protects you from service errors. Carrier and certificate available on request for enterprise clients.
Recommended add-ons
Most customers add these to keep their business compliant year-round.
Trademark Monitoring
RecommendedWe watch for infringing applications and notify you within 24 hours.
Office Action Response
If the USPTO refuses, we draft a professional response.
Trademark Renewal Tracking
USPTO renewals every 5 and 10 years - we never let one lapse.
Premium compliance, no service-fee markup.
Trust you can verify
SOC 2 Type II audited platform. 220,000+ businesses served. 60-day money-back on service fees. State fees passed through at cost with no hidden markup. Explicit AUP on restricted industries.
A compliance partner, not a transaction
Most providers go quiet after checkout. We auto-track every annual report, registered agent renewal, and license deadline across your entities. The Business OS dashboard keeps your compliance score visible year-round.
Premium experience competitors cannot match
Premium positioning, transparent pricing, no service-fee markup on state or federal filings. Premium positioning, transparent pricing, no service-fee markup on state filings.