Patent

  1. The right to prevent others from making, importing, using, selling or offering to sell a patented device, or from practicing a patented method which embodies the invention.
  2. Protects against independent creation.

Copyright

  1. Protects against substantial copying of a work but not copying of ideas, concepts, techniques, or algorithms.
  2. Does NOT protect against independent creation.

Trade Secret

  1. Protects against unauthorized use and/or disclosure of secret information as well as taking of secret ideas, concepts, techniques, and algorithms.
  2. Does NOT protect against independent creation.

Trademark

  1. Protects against marks of others which are likely to create confusion in the marketplace.
  2. Protects against disparagement.