Many businesses confuse trademark and copyright. Both are Intellectual Property protections but they protect very different things. This guide clarifies what each protects and which one your business needs.
| Factor | Trademark | Copyright | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protects | Brand name, logo, tagline, product shape | Original creative works — books, art, music, software | Different scope |
| Duration | 10 years (renewable indefinitely) | Author's lifetime + 60 years | Copyright longer |
| Registration Required | Yes for ® symbol (TM from filing day) | No — exists automatically, registration strengthens it | TM filing stronger |
| Registration Body | IP India (Trademark Registry) | Copyright Office, GoI | Different bodies |
| Cost | ₹4,500-9,000 per class (govt + CA) | ₹2,000-5,000 (govt + CA) | Copyright cheaper |
| Processing Time | 18-24 months for ® certificate | 3-6 months for certificate | Copyright faster |
| TM Symbol from | Filing day itself | After registration | TM immediate |
| Legal Protection | Stops similar brand usage | Stops copying of the work | Both strong |
| International | Madrid Protocol (130+ countries) | Berne Convention (automatic in 180+ countries) | Copyright wider |
Trademark chahiye: brand name, logo, product name protect karna ho. Copyright chahiye: book, song, software, art, website content protect karna ho. Zyaatar businesses dono chahiye — logo ke liye TM + website/content ke liye copyright.