A patent (https://www.uspto.gov/patents/basics) is a property right granted by the U.S. Government to an inventor to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling the invention throughout the United States or importing the invention into the United States for a limited time in exchange for public disclosure of the invention when the patent is granted. A trademark (https://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/basics) can be any word, phrase, symbol, design, or a combination of these things that identifies your goods or services. Its how customers recognize you in the marketplace and distinguish you from your competitors.

Answered by: Kendall Caple