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Copyright is a form of protection grounded in the U.S. Constitution for original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression, including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, such as poetry, novels, movies, songs, computer software, and architecture. Copyright covers both published and unpublished works.  Copyright does not protect facts, ideas, systems, or methods of operation, although it may protect the way these are expressed.  Copyright laws encourage creativity and intellectual pursuits by allowing artists to profit from their creations.

A patent can protect a new, nonobvious and useful device, chemical or process;  a new, original and non-functional ornamental design of a product or article of manufacture; or a new and distinct asexually reproducing plant.  A patent prevents others from making, using, selling, offering to sell or importing the covered invention a limited period of time, essentially granting the patent holder a monopoly on the invention, allowing the inventor the opportunity to profit therefrom.  

A trademark is a word, name, phrase, logo, a graphic symbol or any combination - used in commerce by a manufacturer or seller to identify and distinguish its products from those of others.   It is the commercial substitute for a signature.  Trademarks are often referred to as brand names.