Copyright
What does "Copyright" mean in law?
Copyright is a form of intellectual property protection granted under the Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. sections 101 et seq.) to original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression, including literary, musical, dramatic, and artistic works. Protection attaches automatically upon fixation and lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years (or 95 years from publication for works for hire). Copyright grants the holder exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, perform, display, and create derivative works. Importantly, copyright protects expression, not underlying ideas or facts, a distinction known as the idea-expression dichotomy codified in section 102(b).
Definition
Copyright is a form of intellectual property protection granted under the Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. sections 101 et seq.) to original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression, including literary, musical, dramatic, and artistic works. Protection attaches automatically upon fixation and lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years (or 95 years from publication for works for hire). Copyright grants the holder exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, perform, display, and create derivative works. Importantly, copyright protects expression, not underlying ideas or facts, a distinction known as the idea-expression dichotomy codified in section 102(b).
Example
A novelist automatically receives copyright protection the moment she types her manuscript into a word processor, giving her exclusive control over reproduction and adaptation of the work.