Copyright protection: What It Is and Is Not Protected From Being Used Over and Over Without Authorization
Copyright - It's the form of protection for creators of original works regardless of what kind of original works such as writings, paintings, movies, sound recordings, photographs, musical works, literary works, live performances, sound broadcasts or software under the software copyright law. The protection is given to both unpublished and published works.
The U.S. Copyright Protection Act provides owners the exclusive rights to do the following:
- Replicate the work
- Generate more works based on other work
- Hand out copies of work for sale, by lease or transfer of ownership
- Perform work in public
- Show public copyright material
The owner of the copyrighted material can give permission to other people to do the work. Or simply give out the entire authority by use of transfer of copyright.
Copyright law just covers the fastidious form and/or manner in which the data or idea has manifested. It doesn't cover the real idea, facts, concepts or techniques seen in the copyright material.
For instance, the "Superman" comic books are copyright. Thus, they cannot be replicated or dispersed for sale without getting authorization from the owner. The copyright material also denies others to create similar works that involve the character "Superman". It does not mean, however, that people cannot create a super-human character.
What Can Be Copyrighted?
Copyright protection stems to an author's original works that are tangible forms of expression. Examples of works that are tangible forms of expression include: stories written on paper, songs recorded on tape or computer program saved to a disk. Copyright works include the categories below:
- Architectural works
- Dramatic works - Includes accompanying music
- Literary works
- Motion pictures
- Musical works - Includes accompanying words
- Pantomimes and choreographic works
- Pictorial, sculptural, graphic works
- Sound recordings
The categories should be looked at in a broad manner. Why? Think of it this way: computer programs and compilations can be registered as literary works while architectural plans and maps can be considered graphic, sculptural and pictorial works.
What Does Copyright Not Pertain To
There are several categories that don't qualify for copyright protection. These include the following:
- Works that are not in tangible forms of expression such as improvisational speeches or performances that was never written and/or recorded.
- Ideas, concepts, procedures, discoveries, devices, methods, etc.
- Short phrases, titles, names, slogans, familiar designs or symbols, lettering, coloring, contents, ingredients, etc.
- Work is made up of common property and contains no original authorship such as tape measures, rules, calendars, lists, tables, height charts, weight charts, etc.
