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copyright

A copyright is the exclusive right to make copies, sell or market works of art, music and literature. (noun)

An example of copyright is the protection against selling Madonna's music as your own.

An example of copyright is what the United States Copyright Office does.

See copyright in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

the exclusive right to the publication, production, or sale of the rights to a literary, dramatic, musical, or artistic work, or to the use of a commercial print or label, granted by law for a specified period of time to an author, composer, artist, distributor, etc.: symbol ©

transitive verb

to protect (a book, song, print, etc.) by copyright

adjective

protected by copyright
of or pertaining to copyright

Related Forms:

copyrightable adjective
copyrighter noun

See copyright in American Heritage Dictionary 4

(kŏpˈē-rītˌ)

noun Abbr. c. or cop.

The legal right granted to an author, composer, playwright, publisher, or distributor to exclusive publication, production, sale, or distribution of a literary, musical, dramatic, or artistic work.

adjective