Chapter 1
Accounting and Financing
Course: Business Education Content Knowledge 5101
Subject: Business Education Content Knowledge5101
Chapter: Law And International Business
1. Understanding Copyright and Trademark in the Digital Age
Meaning and Purpose of Copyright
Copyright is a legal right granted to the creators of original works of authorship. These works may include books, music, software code, art, photographs, blog content, videos, and websites.
Copyright grants the creator exclusive rights to:
- Reproduce the work
- Distribute copies
- Perform or display the work publicly
- Create derivative works
These rights apply automatically once the work is fixed in a tangible form (such as saved, written, or recorded). Although registration with the U.S. Copyright Office is not required, it provides legal advantages if infringement occurs.
Copyrights typically last for the life of the author plus 70 years (or 95 years from publication for corporate authorship).
Example: A graphic designer who creates a digital logo retains the copyright and can prevent others from using, modifying, or selling the design without permission.