Copyright is a legal right that protects the original works of authorship. It gives creators exclusive rights over their creations, allowing them to control how their works are used, reproduced, and distributed. Copyright applies to a wide range of creative works, such as literature, music, movies, artwork, software code, and architectural designs.
For example, when an author writes a novel, a musician records a song, or a software developer creates a program, they automatically obtain copyright protection for their work, without needing to file for formal registration (though doing so provides certain legal advantages). Copyright applies automatically when the work is created and fixed in a tangible medium, such as paper or a computer file.
Copyright in Detail: What it Protects and How it Works
Copyright protects the expression of ideas, but not the ideas themselves. This means that the specific way in which you convey an idea—such as a story, a song, or a piece of art—is protected, but the underlying concept or theme is not. For instance, while you cannot copyright the concept of “love” or “space exploration,” you can copyright a novel or song that explores these themes in your unique way.
The protection granted by copyright includes the exclusive rights to:
- Reproduce the work.
- Distribute copies of the work.
- Publicly perform or display the work.
- Create derivative works based on the original.
