What Is Copyright? Explaining How Copyright Works

what is copyright

The copyright is grounded in the U.S. Constitution and granted by law for original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression. Copyright law covers both published and unpublished works. A copyright lawyer can help you with a range of copyright matters from books, music, paintings, sculpture, and films, to computer programs, databases, advertisements, maps, and technical drawings.

Table Of Contents
    ADD

WHAT DOES COPYRIGHT PROTECTION COVER?

How to obtain a copyright, what is a copyright
  • literary works, including novels, non-fiction books, poems, stage productions, newspaper, magazine, and web articles
  • computer software, mobile applications, and databases
  • films, musical works (from songs to symphonies), and choreography
  • art, including paintings, sculpture, photographs, and drawings
  • architecture
  • maps and ads

WHEN DOES COPYRIGHT PROTECTION START?

Copyright protection starts at the moment the work is created and fixed in a tangible form that it is perceptible either directly or with the aid of a machine or device. Think of the moment scenes for a movie are shot and recorded. Those images are now afforded copyright protection. No one else can reuse those shots without permission.

WHAT RIGHTS DOES THE COPYRIGHT OWNER HAVE?

FAQ’s

addtitle

addwording

There are two types of rights under copyright:

Economic Rights – the owner/author/creator’s right to receive financial remuneration by others’ using his/her work. Examples provided by the World International Property Organization include:

  • its reproduction in various forms, such as printed publication or sound recording
  • its public performance, such as in a play or musical work
  • its recording, for example, in the form of compact discs or DVDs
  • its broadcasting, by radio, cable or satellite
  • its translation into other languages
  • its adaptation, such as a novel into a film screenplay

Moral Rights – These protect the non-economic interests. Again, from WIPO:
Examples of widely recognized moral rights include the right to claim authorship of a work and the right to oppose changes to a work that could harm the creator’s reputation.

Other Copyright Topics
Copyright
Other Copyright Blogs
Copycats on the Prowl – How to Protect Your Legacy

Mother Of Invention You have probably heard the proverb, “necessity is the mother of invention,” but to us it has a whole different meaning. You see, we work with inventors every single day and if there is one thing we know to be true it is that mothers invent a lot. Let me say that …

Read Full Blog
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PATENT, COPYRIGHT, AND TRADEMARK?

You’ve got a great idea and you want to protect it; the first step is identifying whether or not you need a patent, a trademark, or a copyright. Though each option is recognized as a type of intellectual property protection, understanding each one can determine which choice you should make. Difference between Patent, Trademark & …

Read Full Blog
Obtain More Information
Learn more on how to obtain a copyright.