Copyrights

A copyright is a set, commonly referred to as a "bundle," of legal rights conferred on the author or creator of an original work.  The legal rights include the right to publish the work, make copies of the work, distribute copies of the work, and to make new works derived from the original work.  The copyright exists from the moment in time that the author or creator fixes the work in a tangible medium of expression.  In general terms, a copyright protects the particular expression of an idea, but not the idea itself.  The right remains in force for varying amounts of time depending on whether the work is published and whether the author is an individual or a legal entity by virtue of a work made for hire.

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