Copyright law

Copyright law: Origins

Copyright law: The Statute of 1976

Copyright law: Copyright Holder Rights

Copyright law: New Technologies

Definition: Body of statutes and common law that determines when creative works can be copyrighted and the enforceable rights of the copyright owner

Significance: Copyright law, which promotes and protects creative expression by rewarding authors and artists for their efforts with exclusive legal rights to control the use of their work, has played an important role in the development of the media, publishing, and entertainment industries.

Copyright is a form of legal protection for authors and creators of original expressive works. Under law, the types of works protected by copyright are literary, musical, dramatic, artistic, choreographic, architectural, and audiovisual works, as well as sound recordings. In no case, however, does copyright protection extend to any idea, procedure, process, system, method of operation, concept, principle, or discovery, regardless of the form in which it is explained or illustrated. Rather, copyright protection applies only to an original expression of an idea or concept. For instance, the idea of two people falling in love cannot by copyrighted, but a particular expression of that idea in the form of an original short story, painting, or song can be copyrighted.

Further Reading

• Alpern, Andrew. 101 Questions About Copyright Law. Mineola, N.Y.: Dover, 1999. A complete guide to copyright law written for nonlawyers using a question-and-answer format and containing practical advice about registering and protecting copyrights. 
• Leaffer, Marshall A. Understanding Copyright Law. 4th ed. Newark, N.J.: LexisNexis, 2005. This book contains a comprehensive summary and explanation of U.S. copyright law, written in concise, understandable language. 
• Nimmer, Melville B., and David Nimmer. Nimmer on Copyright. New York: Matthew Bender, 2003. A multivolume treatise on the law of copyrights, with detailed explanation of all aspects of copyright law and practice, including forms and text of relevant statutes. 
• Patry, William F. Patry on Copyright. St. Paul, Minn.: Thomson West, 2007. This treatise provided a thorough and understandable treatment of all aspects of copyright protection and enforcement. 
• Warda, Mark. How to Register Your Own Copyright. 3d ed. Naperville, Ill.: Sphinx, 2004. Written for nonlawyers, this book is a step-by-step guide to registering creative works with the U.S. Copyright Office, including sample forms and instructions. 

See also: American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers; Book publishing; Digital recording technology; Magazine industry; Music industry; Patent law.