Copyrights Overview:
Copyright is a form of protection provided by law to the expression of an idea or information. Copyright affords protection to authors of "original works of authorship," which include literary works, musical compositions, movies, audio recordings, paintings, photographs, and software, among others. Abstract ideas cannot be protected by copyright. It is only their concrete expression (e.g. in writing) that will qualify for copyright protection. In the U.S., the owner of a copyright has the exclusive right to reproduce the work, publicly distribute the work, publicly display the work, perform the work publicly, and create derivative works based on the work, as well as sell or assign these rights to others.

How is Copyright Protection Obtained?
In general, a work must meet minimal standards of originality and must be fixed in a tangible medium of expression in order to be eligible for copyright protection. No formal registration process is required. Copyright protection arises automatically as soon as the work is created. However, there are some benefits to registering a copyright. For example, in the U.S., registration is necessary to bring an infringement lawsuit, and if registration is made prior to the infringement, the owner may seek statutory damages and attorney's fees in court actions. A registration may be sought at any time within the life of the copyright, and can be filed by following certain deposit requirements of the U.S. Copyright Office.