The authors of “original works of authorship” including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual works, both published and unpublished are afforded certain protections under existing law. Generally, under the 1976 Copyright Act, a copyright owner possesses the exclusive right to reproduce the copyrighted work, to prepare derivative works, to distribute copies or phonorecords of the copyrighted work, to perform the copyrighted work publicly, or to display the copyrighted work publicly.

Information about copyrights can be obtained through the United States Copyright Office Home Page by calling the United States Copyright Office at the Library of Congress at 202-707-3000.