Copyright Protection
What Can You Protect?
Copyright protection: The legal protection known as “copyright” has come to the fore over the past few years with major legal rulings regarding peer-to-peer networks on the Internet. Copyright protection, however, can be a confusing area of the law. This article details what can and cannot be protected by copyright.
Copyright Protection? - Yes Copyright protects "original works of authorship" in a tangible, fixed form of expression. The material does need to be directly perceptible as long as it can be expressed with the aid of technology. A good example of this is a movie, which requires a projection device of some sort.
Materials that can be copyrighted include:
- 1. Literary works;
- 2. Musical works, including any accompanying words
- 3. Dramatic works, including any accompanying music
- 4. Pantomimes and choreographic works
- 5. Pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works
- 6. Motion pictures and other audiovisual works
- 7. Sound recordings
- 8. Architectural works
Each of these categories is traditionally given a very broad reading. For instance, “literary works” include computer programs and plans for building a home are considered "pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works." While copyright cuts a broad path, it doesn’t cover everything.
Protected by Copyright? – No If a work is not tangible, copyright protection will not apply. This can lead to confusion, so here are a few categories not eligible for protection from copyright:
- 1. Works that are not fixed. For example, the statements made by experts at a round table discussion or a comedian’s stage act.
- 2. Titles, names, short phrases, and slogans. These materials may be eligible for patent protection.
- 3. Ideas, procedures and methods.
Copyright protection is a valuable intellectual property tool. If at all possible, copyright the material you produce to prevent others from misusing it.
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