Patent vs trademark: how do they differ in practice?
Reviewed by
Dominic Davies, patent attorney (20+ years)
· Last reviewed
September 7, 2026
A patent protects an invention's function or design for a limited term; a trademark protects a brand identifier like a name or logo indefinitely, as long as it's actively used and renewed. Many companies need both: a patent on the technology, a trademark on the brand built around it.
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