Copyright vs. Trademark: Protecting the Assets That Fuel Your Business

People often mix up copyrights and trademarks, but as intellectual property protections, they’re designed to serve different needs—and understanding these differences can help you maximize your business’s value.

Copyrights protect original works of authorship, like the books, podcasts, or training materials you deliver to your clients. Trademarks, on the other hand, protect the symbols, names, and slogans that identify your business to the world.

Copyright vs. Trademark

Let’s illustrate the difference with an example. Imagine you own a consultancy, DiverCity Talent Solutions®, that specializes in DEI training for corporate clients.

TRADEMARK® Protects: The name DiverCity Talent Solutions®, which distinguishes your business from others in the industry.

COPYRIGHT© Protects: The training materials—videos, slides, workbooks, and guides—that you use to provide results for your clients.

While clients recognize your brand by its trademarked name, they ultimately pay for the transformation your training materials deliver—the assets protected by copyright law.

Making Strategic IP Decisions

For businesses, especially those with limited resources, prioritizing protection around core assets is key. Here’s how to approach it:

• Copyright: As experts, our original content and materials are our primary revenue generators. These must be protected. Copyright protection is automatically granted upon creation, but registration gives you stronger rights in the event that someone copies your work.

• Trademark: If you’d be devastated to see your business name taken by someone else, consider trademark registration to protect it.

Ultimately, copyrights protect the assets your clients are willing to pay for. Trademarks protect the name clients recognize and trust.

IP is Fuel 🚀

Erin