A copyright is the original work of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression.

A copyright covers the expression of an idea, not the idea itself.

Several catagories of material are generally not eligible for copyright protection. These include among others :

• Works that have not been fixed in a tangible form of expression (for example, choreographic works that have not been notated or recorded, or improvisational speeches or performances that have been written or recorded)

• Titles, names, short phrases, and slogans; familiar symbols or designs; mere variations of typographic ornamentation, lettering, or coloring; mere listing of ingredients (recipe) or contents

• Ideas, procedures, methods, systems, processes, concepts, principles, discoveries, or devices, as distinguished from a description, explanation, or illustration

• Works consisting entirely of information that is common property and containing no original authorship (for example : standard calendars, height and weight charts, tape measures and rulers, and lists or tables taken from public documents or other common sources)

Examples include the literary works (books, etc.), pictorial works (pictures, illustrations, etc.), motion pictures, sound recordings, architectural works, etc.

Yes. However, copyright protection is not available for ideas, program logic, algorithms, systems, methods, concepts, or layouts.

Copyright is available for text, artwork, music, audiovisual material, sound recordings, etc.

Generally speaking, a copyright owner has the exclusive right to reproduce the copyrighted work.

A copyrightable work is automatically protected from the moment of its creation, and ordinarily has a term enduring the author's life, plus 70 years after the author's death. For works made for hire, the term is 95 years from first publication, or 120 years from creation, whichever is shorter.

By submitting an application with the Register of Copyrights, Washington, D.C.

Ordinarily no, but your rights are limited without a registration.

© is used to indicate that the work is protected by the copyright laws.

Yes.

An infringer may be liable for the copyright owner's actual damages plus the infringer's profits, or statutory damages of $750 to $30,000 per infringement, up to $150,000 in cases for willful infringement. In addition, a prevailing party may be able to recover full costs, including reasonable attorney's fees.