Trademarks are one of the four types of intellectual property rights.  Trademarks take a variety of forms including words, logos, color, sound, scent, packaging, movement, or other designation of source that identify and distinguish a good or service from the goods/services of others.  They are imprinted everywhere on product labels, stationary, promotional materials or in advertising-campaigns and the like causing consumers to associate your brand with a particular quality and comfort. Trademarks allow businesses to build consumer recognition, brand reputation and public goodwill in connection with the associated goods and services they provide. In fact, a brand will frequently represent the majority of a company’s total assets.

Copyrights apply to anyone who seeks to protect their original creative works offered in tangible form-whether recorded or written. Copyrights exist in items such as written works ie. articles-manuscripts-newsletters, etc., website ie. text-graphics-overall site and online works, technical works, computer program, photographs, music sound recordings-lyrics and arrangement, etc. and promotional materials to name a few. A copyright is established upon completion of the work rather than through registration. However, a copyright registration provides substantial advantages to the copyright holder, particularly in cases of infringement.