Copyright Definition
kŏpē-rīt
copyrights
noun
copyrights
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, ©
Webster's New World
The exclusive statutory right of literary (authors, playwrights, poets), musical (composers, musicians), visual (painters, photographers, sculptors), and other artists to control the reproduction, use, and disposition of their work, usually for their lifetime plus seventy years. The Copyright Act of 1976 governs most copyrights in the United States. See also copy and fair use.
Webster's New World Law
(uncountable) The right by law to be the entity which determines who may publish, copy and distribute a piece of writing, music, picture or other work of authorship.
Copyright is a separate legal area from trademarks.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
- right of first publication
adjective
Protected by copyright.
Webster's New World
Of or pertaining to copyright.
Webster's New World
verb
To protect (a book, song, print, etc.) by copyright.
Webster's New World
To secure a copyright for.
American Heritage
To place under a copyright.
Wiktionary
To obtain or secure a copyright for some literary or other artistic work.
Wiktionary
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