What’s the difference between a copyright, trademark, and trade dress?

Intellectual Property (IP) refers to something produced through creative efforts such as books, text, code, images, videos, logos, and slogans. Copyright, trademark, and trade dress are all types of IP.

What's a copyright?

Copyright protects tangible original works, such as photos or text descriptions on an online store. Generally copyright protection applies from the time the work is created, though copyright laws vary by region.

Learn more about Shopify's copyright policy, how to report copyright infringement, and how to respond to a copyright notice.

What's a trademark and trade dress?

Trademarks are symbols or words that identify and distinguish a business or product from other businesses or products. Trade dress covers the image or appearance of a product, including features such as size, shape, color, and texture, which distinguishes that product from others. Trademark and trade dress owners generally have the right to prevent others from using similar marks or trade dress in ways that are likely to confuse consumers about the source or origin of products.

Learn more about Shopify's trademark and trade dress policy, how to report a trademark or trade dress infringement, and how to respond to a trademark or trade dress notice.