copyright law

A copyright provides the creator of an intellectual production with ownership and exclusive rights to publish, print, distribute, or sell the copyrighted material. Intellectual productions that are eligible for copyright privileges include written material, written and recorded music, paintings, sculptures, photographs, movies, videos and video games, computer programs, and many other mediums of creative expression. To qualify for copyright protection a work must be creative, exist in physical form, and be originally produced by the …

…rsatility of the Internet is encouraging many new incidences and types of copyright violations. For example, Napster.com is currently being sued for providing the means for individuals to violate copyright laws by trading music with others, free of charge, over the Internet. Only time will tell how Congress decides to deal with the new and growing problems of copyright infringement, but keeping informed of the new and changing legislation will be beneficial to all.