Meaning and Subject Matter of Copyright
Meaning of Copyright
Copyright is a form of legal protection granted to creators of original literary, artistic, musical, and other intellectual works.
It gives the author or creator exclusive rights over the use, reproduction, distribution, adaptation, and public performance of their work.
The purpose is to protect the expression of ideas, not the ideas themselves.
Copyright arises automatically upon creation of the work and does not require registration, though registration can provide legal benefits.
Subject Matter of Copyright
The subject matter refers to the types of works that are protected under copyright law.
Common categories include:
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Literary works | Novels, poems, articles, computer programs, manuals |
| Musical works | Songs, compositions, including accompanying lyrics |
| Dramatic works | Plays, scripts, choreography |
| Artistic works | Paintings, drawings, sculptures, photographs |
| Cinematographic films | Movies, documentaries, videos |
| Sound recordings | Recordings of music or other sounds |
| Architectural works | Building designs, blueprints |
What is NOT protected?
Ideas, methods, or concepts themselves (only their expression is protected)
Titles, names, short phrases (may be protected under trademark law)
Facts or data (may be protected under other laws, e.g., databases)
Key points:
Copyright protects the form of expression fixed in a tangible medium.
The work must be original and creative.
Copyright generally lasts for the life of the author plus a certain number of years (e.g., 60 years in India, 70 years in many other countries).
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