A legal right that protects original works of authorship—such as books, music, software, artwork, and videos—by giving the creator exclusive rights to use, reproduce, distribute, and display the work, usually for the creator’s lifetime plus a set number of years.
What is Copyright?
Copyright is a form of intellectual property protection granted automatically under U.S. law (and in most countries) to creators of original works fixed in a tangible medium of expression. This means the moment you create and record, write, or otherwise store your work in a physical or digital form, you hold copyright in it—whether or not you formally register it.
The rights under copyright generally include the ability to reproduce the work, prepare derivative works, distribute copies, perform or display the work publicly, and authorize others to do the same. In the U.S., for works created after January 1, 1978, copyright protection typically lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years. For works made for hire, it lasts 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever is shorter.
While registration with the U.S. Copyright Office is not required to own copyright, it provides important benefits:
- Creates a public record of ownership
- Allows you to file a copyright infringement lawsuit in U.S. federal court
- Enables you to claim statutory damages and attorney’s fees in litigation (if registered before infringement or within 3 months of publication)
For businesses, especially in e-commerce, creative industries, and software development, copyright helps protect brand assets like product images, marketing materials, website content, music, or videos from unauthorized use. Non-U.S. creators also benefit from U.S. copyright protection through international treaties like the Berne Convention, which ensures that works originating in one member country are protected in others.
However, copyright does not protect ideas, procedures, processes, or factual information—it only protects the specific expression of those ideas. For example, the concept for a video is not protected, but the actual filmed footage is.
Copyright protection starts automatically when you create an original work in a fixed form—such as a book, song, photograph, or software code. While this grants you ownership rights immediately, registering the work with the U.S. Copyright Office provides stronger legal protection and allows you to sue for damages in court. The registration process is usually done online through the U.S. Copyright Office’s eCO system, where you submit an application, pay a filing fee, and provide a copy (or copies) of the work. Once approved, you receive a certificate of registration as official proof of ownership.
In an international business context, registering copyright in the U.S. can be especially useful if your work is distributed or sold there, as it provides a stronger legal basis to enforce your rights against infringement.
