The Subject Matter of Copyright

What Does Copyright Law Cover?

Copyright law generally covers all “original works of authorship.” Such original works come in many forms. For example, in almost all countries, all of the following are protected by copyright law:

• literary works (books, articles, letters, etc.);
• musical works;
• dramatic works (operas, plays);
• graphic arts (photographs, sculptures, paintings, etc.);
• motion pictures and audiovisual works (movies, videos, television programs, etc.);
• architectural works; and
• computer software.

In some countries, sound recordings are also covered by copyright law. In other countries, sound recordings are protected by a separate, related set of rules known as “neighboring rights.” In some countries, government works -- such as maps, official reports, and judicial opinions -- are protected by copyright law; in others, they are considered part of the public domain.

Copyright law covers works that have not been published or even made public. So, for example, private letters, diaries, and email messages are all protected by copyright law.