What is Copyright? Learn about the basics of copyright with our online reference page.

The most recent major overhaul of copyright in the US, the Copyright Act of 1976, extended federal copyright to works as soon as they are created and "fixed", without requiring publication or registration.

A copyright is a form of protection provided by U.S. law to the authors of "original works of authorship" fixed in any tangible medium of expression. Learn more about the basics of copyrights.

The Copyright Office administers the national copyright system and provides advice on copyright law to congress, federal agencies, the courts and the public.

Search the author, title, or keywords of any copyright registered with the U.S. Copyright Office and Library of Congress. Works older than 1978 may be found in the Copyright Public Records Reading …

If you submit 2 or more unpublished works on the "Standard Application" the Copyright Office may register only 1 of your works and remove the remaining works from the claim. To register those …

Aug 24, 2025 · Learn about copyright, its legal significance, types, and how it protects intellectual property from unauthorized use for up to 70 years post-death.

May 5, 2026 · copyright, the exclusive, legally secured right to reproduce, distribute, and perform a literary, musical, dramatic, or artistic work.

Copyright (or author’s right) is a legal term used to describe the rights that creators have over their literary and artistic works. Works covered by copyright range from books, music, paintings, sculpture, …

Jul 24, 2025 · But what does that actually mean? Copyright is a legal protection for original works of authorship. It can apply to anything from music, poetry, photography and graphic design to software …