At its most basic, a copyright grants certain rights to the owner or creator of an intellectual property. This includes giving that person or entity exclusive rights to:

• Reproduce the work in question
• Perform and display the work publicly
• Distribute and sell copies of the work
• Create derivative works

While there are several different types of work that are covered under those guidelines, they must be a tangible form of expression. Some such works include literary works such as stories, music, pieces of art such as sculptures, architecture, and more. The “tangible” aspect of the copyright is very important, as pure ideas, methods, systems, concepts and other intangible works cannot be copyrighted. Other examples of this include works that made up of common property (calendars, measures and rulers, etc.), titles, slogans or phrases that are simply small changes in lettering or coloring, and more.

While the copyright process does help businesses and individuals protect their work, it can be a difficult path to navigate, especially if the work is somewhat complicated in nature. Seeking the assistance of an experience attorney can help a person determine what elements of their business should be copyrighted and how to go about the procedure.