Federal vs. State

Federal intellectual property registration entitles the owner to use trademarks, patents and copyright throughout the United States, and provides some protection internationally as well. State governments also allow for the registration of intellectual property, although the protection provided is comparatively limited. Furthermore, most state governments will only register trademarks and will not allow the registration of copyrights or patents.

Federal Registration
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is the primary source of patent and trademark registration protection used by U.S. and international businesses. The U.S. Copyright Office is the authority concerning U.S. Copyright law and filing procedures.

State Registration
In most states, intellectual property registrations are done through the Secretary of State's Office.