Copyright

What Is Copyright? Copyright is a legal right that protects original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression. It gives the creator exclusive control over how the work is used, reproduced, distributed, and adapted. Copyright protection arises automatically upon creation and fixation of the work, without the need for registration, although registration provides important legal benefits. ## What Copyright Protects - Literary works (books, articles, software code) - Musical compositions and sound recordings - Dramatic works and screenplays - Pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works - Architectural designs - Motion pictures and audiovisual works ## Key Principles Copyright protects the expression of ideas, not the ideas themselves. Facts, procedures, and methods of operation are not copyrightable. The fair use doctrine permits limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes such as criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, and research. Copyright duration for works created today is the life of the author plus 70 years (or 95 years from publication for works made for hire). Registration with the U.S. Copyright Office is required before filing an infringement lawsuit and enables recovery of statutory damages and attorneys' fees.