Copyright, as a noun, protects basically the expression of ideas which can include books, paintings, songs, movies… In other words, it prohibits the distribution of the original works of an author. However, it does not protect the process through which this particular work was created or the use of information it contains. Patent is a right, granted by the government, to exclude others from making, using or selling an invention. The essential point is that patents protect ideas, not just their expressions. Copyright, in this form, can also appear as a verb, or an adjective, as well, and so can patent.
