Copyrights for Entrepreneurs and Innovators
What are Copyrights?
Copyrights (opens in a new tab) are a type of intellectual property protected by federal law (opens in a new tab) that protects original works of authorship once they are fixed in a tangible medium of expression. A work is "original" when it is independently created by a human author using a minimal degree of creativity and without copying. A work is fixed when it is preserved in some form such that it can be consumed for more than a short time (e.g., an oral or visual performance that is not recorded is not copyrighted). Copyrights exist automatically by operation of law as soon as the work is fixed, and registration is not mandatory. Registration, however, is necessary for enforcement through litigation.
Is My Work Copyrightable or Not?
Should I Register My Copyright?
Who Is the Author of a Copyrighted Work?
Additional Resources
- Copyright Office Circulars (opens in a new tab) - Copyright topic publications for a general audience
- WIPO Publication - Creative Expression: An Introduction to Copyright (opens in a new tab) - Designed for use by small and medium-sized business
- U.S. Copyright Office Website (opens in a new tab) - Apply for registration, search for copyrights, record assignments of copyright, and more
- Copyright Alliance (opens in a new tab) - A website provided by an alliance of copyright holders of various sizes with lots of information about copyright and copyright enforcement