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What exclusive rights does a copyright owner have?

Answer: It is essential to appreciate that a copyright represents a bundle of exclusive rights, namely the following exclusive rights of the copyright holder: (i) to reproduce the work in copies or phonorecords; (ii) to prepare, or authorize the preparation of, derivative works based upon the work; (iii) to distribute copies or phonorecords to the public by sale or other transfer of ownership; (iv) to perform the work publicly; (v) to display the work publicly; and (vi) in the case of sound recordings, to perform the work publicly by means of a digital audio transmission.  Certain uses of copyrighted materials sometimes implicate several exclusive rights at one...

What is covered by a copyright?

Answer: A copyright protects original works of authorship.  Copyrights exist automatically, as soon as a work is fixed in a tangible form.  Copyright law protects literary works (including computer programs); musical works; dramatic works; pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works (including maps); motion picture and other audiovisual works; sound recordings; and architectural works.  Copyright law protects materials on websites and in electronic databases, as well as in hard...