Copyright is a form of protection granted by law to the creators of original works of authorship, including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, software, and certain other intellectual works, both published and unpublished.

Copyright protection is automatic upon the creation of an original work fixed in a tangible medium of expression, like written on paper or saved on a computer.

While not required for protection, registration has certain benefits, such as establishing a public record of the copyright and being necessary for filing infringement lawsuits in court. A copyright lawyer can provide expert guidance on how best to protect your creative works, ensuring you utilize the full extent of legal protections available.

In most countries, copyright lasts for the life of the author plus an additional 70 years.

Fair use is a legal doctrine that allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research.

Generally, you need permission to use copyrighted material unless the use falls under exceptions like fair use. However, fair use determinations can be complex and context-specific.

Copyright infringement occurs when someone uses a copyrighted work without authorization in a way that violates one or more of the copyright holder’s exclusive rights.

Names, short phrases, titles, and slogans are typically not copyrightable but can sometimes be protected under trademark law.