What does copyright protect?

Copyright protects the expressions of ideas, such as songs, books, music, artwork, and other creative works. Unlike patents, which guard inventions and processes, copyright focuses specifically on the way those ideas are expressed, not the ideas themselves. This means that an author has exclusive rights to their original work, preventing others from using, distributing, or reproducing it without permission.

The significance of copyright lies in its ability to encourage creativity by providing a legal framework that rewards artists and creators for their contributions. This protection allows creators to maintain control over their works and to profit from them, thereby fostering an environment where new and innovative ideas can flourish. Copyright does not extend to the underlying concepts or ideas but rather to the specific manifestation of those ideas in tangible form.