This basic protection may be registered by filing an application for federal copyright registration, which requires a simple form, a modest fee, and a copy of the work you want to protect. Federal copyrights for works created and registered after 1978 generally last for seventy years after the author's death. If someone infringes your federally registered copyright, the statute provides for substantial damages as well as attorneys' fees. The primary purpose of trademarking is to prevent consumer confusion over the origin of the products. Federal trademark registration affords the strongest protection, but each state has trademark protections that should be considered as well.
Patents are by far the most technically demanding branch of intellectual property.
In basic terms, a patent is given to an inventor of some novel machine, process, or product that has utility to the public. The term of the patent has changed recently and patents issuing today have a life of approximately twenty years from the date the application is filed. To get a patent, the inventor must file a formal application with the Patent and Trademark Office, disclosing the substance of the invention, providing a sufficient written description to allow the public to make the invention, and suggesting the best mode of the invention contemplated by the inventor. Since the process can take several years, it's important to apply as soon as possible. Once the patent is granted, you can use it to preclude others who seek to copy or otherwise use your invention and license the technology for fees.