How is a copyright different from a patent?
A) Copyrights are applied for mechanical inventions, while a patent is applied for tangible writings.
B) Patents have a limited term period, while copyrights carry lifelong terms.
C) Patents fall under the state law, while copyrights fall under federal law.
D) Copyrights should be novel, and useful, while patents need not be so.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Patents have a limited term period, usually lasting for 20 years from the date of filing the application, while copyrights carry lifelong terms, lasting for the life of the author plus several years after their death.

Answer: D
 Copyrights protect original works of expression, such as literary, musical, and artistic works, while patents protect inventions or discoveries, such as machines, processes, and chemical compositions. Patents must be novel, non-obvious, and useful, while copyrights only need to be original and fixed in a tangible medium of expression.

How Is a Copyright Different from a Patent