What kinds of works does copyright protect?

Copyright protects original works of human authorship that have been fixed in a tangible medium of expression. The categories of works that copyright protects are:

  • Literary works such as books, articles, essays, blog posts, stories, poems, email messages, notes, computer programs (source code, not the algorithm), etc.
  • Music – songs, lyrics, musical compositions and arrangements
  • Dramatic works – plays, screenplays, scripts, operas
  • Pantomime routines
  • Choreography for dances and other performances involving human movement
  • Pictorial works – 2-dimensional visual expressions such as drawings, paintings, photographs, graphics, maps, diagrams, logos, etc.
  • Sculptural works – 3-dimensional visual representations such as statues, topographical maps, dolls, etc.
  • Audiovisual works – motion pictures (including both silent movies and “talkies”), movies, television shows, videos, video games, etc.
  • Sound recordings – recordings of music, spoken-word, or other sounds (including production and performance elements)
  • Architectural works – blueprints and building designs