How to tell copyright from a trade-mark

This page is a public educational walkthrough. It is not a retainer, a court form, or a promise about your result. For legal advice, you should contact an appropriate Lawyer or Paralegal specializing in the area of law you need assistance with.

1. Copyright is about original works

   Text, music, software, images. The Copyright Act is the usual federal statute on this site.

2. A trade-mark is about a brand used in the market

   Names, logos and sometimes slogans. That is a different Act and a different federal office.

3. Registration, if you want it, is not done on Know The Law

   CIPO runs those applications. We host the statute text.

4. Using a work and registering a mark can overlap in a fight

   Still start by naming which right you think was used.

5. A cease-and-desist email is not a court order

   If a claim is issued, that is a separate civil-court path.

Official law on this site: intellectual-property.

Disclaimer: Know The Law publishes legal information for the public, not legal advice. Court forms, fees and filing channels change. Read the official statute text and the official form page linked from this guide before you act. We do not represent you and we do not file documents for you. For legal advice, you should contact an appropriate Lawyer or Paralegal specializing in the area of law you need assistance with.