Copyright vs Patent

Difference Between Patent and Copyright

Differentiate between patent and copyright and tabulate it

Basis	Patent	Copyright
Definition	A patent is a legal right granted to an inventor, giving exclusive rights to make, use, and sell an invention for a limited period.	Copyright is a legal protection granted to the creators of original works of authorship, such as literary, artistic, or musical works.
Purpose	Protects new and useful inventions, processes, machines, or improvements to encourage innovation.	Protects the expression of ideas (not the ideas themselves) to promote creativity and artistic endeavors.
Subject Matter	Inventions (e.g., machines, devices, chemical compositions, processes).	Creative works (e.g., books, music, paintings, software, films).
Duration	Typically lasts for 20 years from the filing date (for utility patents), after which it enters the public domain.	Lasts for the lifetime of the creator plus an additional 50–70 years after their death (varies by jurisdiction).
Registration	Requires formal application and approval from a patent office after a rigorous examination process.	Automatically granted upon creation and fixation of the work in a tangible medium; registration is optional but enhances legal protection.
Examples	A new smartphone technology, a pharmaceutical drug formula.	A novel, a song, a movie script.
Scope of Protection	Prevents others from making, using, or selling the patented invention without permission.	Prevents others from copying, distributing, or performing the copyrighted work without permission.
Cost	Expensive due to application fees, legal assistance, and maintenance costs over the patent term.	Relatively inexpensive; no cost for automatic protection, though registration incurs a small fee.