Copyright Law refers to the body of legal regulations that grant creators, such as authors, artists, and musicians, exclusive rights to their original works. This includes the right to reproduce, distribute, perform, display, and create derivative works based on their creations. Copyright law aims to protect the intellectual property of creators, ensuring they can benefit financially and control how their works are used. The protection generally applies to a wide range of creative expressions, such as literature, music, films, software, and visual arts.
Copyright law typically lasts for a specific duration, often the life of the creator plus a certain number of years, after which the work may enter the public domain and become available for use without permission. Violations of copyright, known as infringement, can lead to legal action and penalties. Copyright law also includes provisions for fair use, allowing limited use of copyrighted material without permission under certain circumstances, such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research. The specifics of copyright law can vary by country, reflecting local laws and international agreements regarding intellectual property.
An AI-assisted artwork, A Single Piece of American Cheese, received a landmark copyright on January 30, 2025. The U.S. Copyright Office historically resisted granting copyrights to AI creations, citing a…