What is Copyright Protection?

Question

Copyright Protection

Answer 1

"Copyright is a set of exclusive rights granted by governments to regulate the use of a particular expression of an idea or information. At its most general, it is literally "the right to copy" an original creation. In most cases, these rights are of limited duration. The symbol for copyright is ©, and in some jurisdictions may alternately be written (c).

Copyright may subsist in a wide range of creative, intellectual, or artistic forms or "works". These include poems, theses, plays, and other literary works, movies, choreographic works (dances, ballets, etc.), musical compositions, audio recordings, paintings, drawings, sculptures, photographs, software, radio and television broadcasts of live and other performances, and, in some jurisdictions, industrial designs. Copyright is a type of intellectual property; designs or industrial designs may be a separate or overlapping form of intellectual property in some jurisdictions.

Copyright law covers only the particular form or manner in which ideas or information have been manifested, the "form of material expression". It is not designed or intended to cover the actual idea, concepts, facts, styles, or techniques which may be embodied in or represented by the copyright work. Copyright law provides scope for satirical or interpretive works which themselves may be copyrighted. See idea-expression divide.

For example, the copyright which subsists in relation to a Mickey Mouse cartoon prohibits unauthorized parties from distributing copies of the cartoon or creating derivative works which copy or mimic Disney's particular anthropomorphic mouse, but does not prohibit the creation of artistic works about anthropomorphic mice in general, so long as they are sufficiently different to not be imitative of the original. Other laws may impose legal restrictions on reproduction or use where copyright does not - such as trademarks and patents."

basically copyrighting something means that you have given birth to this idea, or invention and are now telling the world that it's all yours and that no one else can copy it with out your permission, the protection part is that if someone does try to duplicate your words, or inventions, or what not by using the exact same format, then they can face a hefy fine, or even jail time. Notice how the top part is in quotes that's because I didn't say it, I mearly looked it up and transcribed it for your bennifit, and at the bottom will note where the information came from giving due credit where credit is earned.

Answer 2

It's securing exclusive rights to creative works you own, create or otherwise control as the "owner" of a business where others created under a "work made for hire" situation. Rights endure for the life time of the author plus 95 years or a flat 95 years for corporations. It afford you governmentally warranteed (but not enforced, you must enforce it yourself by taking violtators to court) protectoin against anyone copying, pirating, using your works commercially without obtain permission, lisences and a grant of rights from you, usually in exchange for money.

It doesn't cover short phrases like titles or band names or movie names.

The work must be of a creative nature and not an invention or idea.

YOu must follow the laws of your land to obtain the benefits of protection. For example, if you don't pay a fee and register the work in the United States you can't sue anyone in Federal court for using to copying your work until you register the work and pay a fee, then they can fight your in court claiming it was innocent infrigement.

It costs about $2,000 to take someone to court. There are no copyright police although sometimes the FBI gets involved if your name is Warner Brothers, Capitol Records, Fox Studios or Bill Gates.

A copyright is secured world wide automatically (except in a few countries like China and a few Middle Eastern or African NAtions and places like Singapore) when the work is created, however you should post a copyright notice (the word Copyright, the year and your name) on all copies and you must comply with the laws of the land. No formal registration is required in the UK, it is optional in Canada and manditory in the US.

Answer 3

Here's what the US Copyright Office has to say:

"Copyright, a form of intellectual property law, protects original works of authorship including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, such as poetry, novels, movies, songs, computer software, and architecture. Copyright does not protect facts, ideas, systems, or methods of operation, although it may protect the way these things are expressed."

I posted some links that should assist you further.

Hope that helps!