What Rights Does Copyright Provide?

Copyright grants creators a bundle of exclusive rights that allow them to control how their works are used and shared. These rights are designed to protect the creator’s intellectual property and ensure they can benefit financially from their creations.

The key rights granted to the owner are:

– Right to Reproduce
Creators have the exclusive right to make copies of their work in various forms, including printing, downloading, uploading, scanning, or recording it on media like CDs or DVDs. This ensures that no one can reproduce the work without permission.

– Right to Distribute
The creator controls how their work is distributed, meaning they can sell, lease, or lend copies to the public. This right enables the creator to decide who can access their work and under what conditions.

– Right to Adapt
Copyright allows creators to adapt their work into new forms. This includes the ability to translate written content into other languages, turn a novel into a screenplay, or make any other modifications or derivative works based on the original.

– Right to Perform
Creators can decide whether their work can be performed publicly. This applies to works like plays, music, and other performances that are shared with an audience.

– Right to Display
For visual works, such as paintings or photographs, copyright gives the creator the right to publicly display their work. This can include exhibitions, online sharing, or showing the work in a public space.

– Moral Rights
Beyond economic rights, creators have moral rights that protect the integrity of their work. This ensures their work is not distorted or altered in a way that misrepresents their vision. Creators also have the right to be attributed properly for their work.

These rights help creators maintain control over their works and ensure that they can make decisions about how their intellectual property is used, shared, and enjoyed.