Copyright

Copyright is a legal means of protecting an author's work. It is a type of intellectual property that
provides exclusive publication, distribution, and usage rights for the author. This means whatever
content the author created cannot be used or published by anyone else without the consent of the
author. The length of copyright protection may vary from country to country, but it usually lasts for the
life of the author plus 50 to 100 years.

Many different types of content can be protected by copyright. Examples include books, poems, plays,
songs, films, and artwork. In modern times, copyright protection has been extended to websites and
other online content. Therefore, any original content published on the Web is protected by copyright
law. This is important in the digital age we live in, since large amounts of content can be easily copied
and pasted.

So how do you obtain copyright protection? Fortunately, in most countries, copyright protection is
automatic. This means whenever you publish original content, it is automatically protected by copyright
law. For example, if you post a blog on the Internet, your content is automatically covered by copyright.
In most cases, this type of copyright protection is all that is necessary. However, if you want others to
know your content is copyright protected, you can post the copyright logo (©) next to your name on any
Web pages that include your original content. You may also want to include the years you have owned
the content. Below is an example of a copyright line:

Copyright © 2007-2009 [your name].

In situations where it is critical to protect an author's rights, many countries provide copyright
registration, which allows authors to register copyrighted content with a central agency. This makes it
easier to prove ownership of content if it is ever disputed.

Copyright provides a helpful means of protecting original content. It serves to give people credit for the
work they do, which is something we can all appreciate. Therefore, if you ever consider copying
someone else's content, think of how it would make you feel if someone copied your original work and
published it as their own. If you ever would like to use another person's content, make sure to ask the
author for permission first. And always give credit where credit is due.
Definition of Copyright

Noun

The grant of an exclusive right to make copies, license, use, or otherwise exploit an original work of art,
or over the creation of an original design.

Origin

What Does a Copyright Protect

Copyright is a form of intellectual property law in the U.S., which offers protection for “original works of
authorship,” whether published or unpublished. Such original creative works include:

literary works

musical works, including any accompanying words

dramatic works, including any accompanying music

pantomimes and choreographic works (if written down, or otherwise expressed in tangible medium)

pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works

motion pictures and other audiovisual works

sound recordings

architectural works

Things Not Protected by Copyright

Ideas, Methods or Systems – This covers a broad spectrum of works, including methods for making or
building things, scientific discoveries or ideas, scientific or technical methods, business operations or
procedures, mathematical formulas, algorithms, or principles. This category also covers blank forms.

Commonly Known Information – Items considered to belong to society as a whole, with no known
authorship. For example, height and weight charts, rulers and tape measures, and standard calendars,
fall into this category, which is often known as “the sky is blue” category, because there is no known
author to that concept.
Choreographic Works – Choreography, which is the step sequence and design in a dance routine, cannot
be protected by copyright, unless it has been video recorded or otherwise notated. Also included under
this category are speeches given, which have not been transcribed either before or after they are given.

Names, Titles Short Phrases, and Expressions – This category covers names of things, slogans, catch
phrases, pseudonyms, product descriptions, titles of works, and other things. A comprehensive
description is available in the Copyright Office’s Circular 34. Also included under this category are
recipes. Specifically, a list of ingredients cannot be protected by copyright, though the specific written
directions published as part of a recipe may be protected. Other factors apply, such as whether the
recipe is published as part of a cookbook, or contains other expressions that are copyrightable.

For example:

Dale has developed a method of dog training that works really well for most dogs. He writes down the
steps he takes to teach dogs positive behaviors, and makes an instructional video, then sells the
information online. In this example, copyright protection does not cover Dale’s methods in and of
themselves, but may protect the written materials and video lessons.