Copyright as an Example of Intellectual Property Rights

What is copyright?

Copyright is an example of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), the collective term used to refer to various legal rights that protect the creations of the mind. It is a form of protection provided to the creators of literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and other works. Copyright gives creators the exclusive right to copy their work, make derivative works, and distribute copies of the work to the public.

What Can be Copyrighted?

Copyright law protects original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression. This includes literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works such as books, articles, photographs, songs, and paintings. Copyright does not protect facts, ideas, systems, or methods of operation, although it may protect the way these things are expressed.

What Rights Does Copyright Provide?

Copyright gives the copyright holder the exclusive right to reproduce the work, prepare derivative works, distribute copies of the work, perform the work publicly, and display the work publicly. Copyright also gives the holder the exclusive right to authorize others to do any of these activities.

Who is Entitled to Copyright Protection?

In general, copyright protection is available to anyone who creates an original work of authorship that is fixed in a tangible medium. This includes both individuals and companies. In some cases, copyright protection begins automatically when the work is created, without any registration or other formalities.

What is the Duration of Copyright Protection?

Copyright protection lasts for the life of the author, plus an additional 70 years. After the expiration of the copyright term, the work falls into the public domain and may be used freely by anyone.