Business Dictionary
Copyright
Definition
The exclusive legal right, given to an originator or an assignee to print, publish, perform, film, or record literary, artistic, or musical material.
Deep Dive
Copyright is a legal right that grants the creator of an original work of authorship exclusive rights to its use and distribution, usually for a limited time. This intellectual property protection applies to a wide range of creative, intellectual, or artistic forms, including literary works (novels, software code), musical compositions, dramatic works, artistic works (paintings, sculptures), architectural designs, photographs, and sound recordings. Copyright automatically arises upon creation of the work, though registration can provide additional legal benefits.
Examples & Use Cases
- 1The source code for a proprietary software application
- 2A published novel or a non-fiction book
- 3A photograph used in a marketing campaign or website
- 4A musical composition
Related Terms
Intellectual PropertyRoyaltiesPlagiarism