Copyright Definition

Copyright is a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States (title 17, U.S. Code) to the authors of "original works of authorship."  This protection is available to both published and unpublished works that are fixed in a tangible form of expression.

Copyrightable works include the following categories: 

• 1. Literary works - like fiction, nonfiction, manuscripts, poetry, reports, speaches, brochures, directories, computer programs
• 2. Visual Arts - like advertisements, maps, globes, cartoons, paintings, puzzles, greeting cards, holograms, jewelry designs, engravings, photographs, sculpture, stained glass windows
• 3. Preforming Arts - like musical works (including accompanying words), dramatic works (including accompanying music), motion pictures
• 4. Sound Recordings - like recordings of music, drama, or lectures.
• 5. Serials and Periodicals - like newspapers, magazines, bulletins, newsletters, journals, proceedings of societies