Copyright is a legal concept that gives the creators of original works, such as literature, music, and art, the exclusive right to control the reproduction and distribution of their work. Copyright law is intended to protect the intellectual property of creators and to encourage the creation of new works.
In most countries, copyright protection is automatic as soon as a work is created and fixed in a tangible form, such as being written down or recorded. The creator of the work does not need to register the work or include a copyright notice in order for it to be protected by copyright. However, registering a work and including a copyright notice can make it easier to enforce the creator’s rights if the work is infringed upon.
Copyright law varies from country to country, and the specific rights that are granted to creators may differ. In general, copyright law allows creators to control how their work is used and to receive payment for the use of their work. It also sets limits on the use of copyrighted material by others, such as the fair use doctrine, which allows for the limited use of copyrighted material without the permission of the copyright holder for purposes such as criticism, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research.