A copyright is the appropriate protective means for "works of authorship." A "work of authorship" is broadly defined by statute to include writings, musical compositions, dramatic works, paintings, choreography, paintings, sculptures, motion pictures, photographs, audio recordings, and architecture. A copyright may also be appropriate for software in certain circumstances.
A copyright is secured automatically when a work is "created." A work is "created" when it is written or recorded in tangible form for the first time. Official registration of a copyright creates a specific date for the creation of the work. If OIPA determines that registration of the copyright is beneficial, then OIPA will register the copyright by sending the necessary documents to the Library of Congress Copyright Office in Washington D.C.
The owner of a copyright has the right to reproduce the copyrighted work, the right to prepare derivative works based upon the work, the right to distribute copies of the work to the public, the right to perform the copyrighted work publicly, and the right to display the copyrighted work publicly. The term of a copyright for works created on or after January 1, 1978 is the life of the author plus seventy years. A copyright for a work made for hire remains in force for a term of 90 years from the year of its first publication.
For more information about copyrights and their duration, see United States Code Title 17 or the U.S. Copyright Office website.
