Final answer:
A copyright infringement is the unauthorized use of copyrighted material without the permission of the copyright holder. Copyrights provide legal protection for authors and creators, ensuring they control the use and receive economic benefits from their work, typically lasting for the author's life plus 70 years.
Step-by-step explanation:
A violation of the exclusive rights of a copyright holder involves actions such as copying, distributing, or performing the copyright owner's work without their permission.
Copyright, defined by the U.S. Copyright Office, is a form of legal protection to prevent copying for commercial purposes of 'original works of authorship.' This covers a wide range of creations including books, music, and many other artistic forms. These laws ensure that creators can control the use of their work and benefit economically from it.
Copyright protection is significant as it enables authors, artists, and other creators to be compensated for their work and prevents others from using it without permission.
The terms of copyright vary, but it generally lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years after their passing. While copyright infringement is illegal, certain uses, such as noncommercial or educational purposes, may be permitted under fair use doctrines.
State and federal governments have created laws that enforce these protections.
A notable Supreme Court case, MGM Studios v. Grokster (2005), ruled that companies distributing file-sharing software enabling copyright infringement could be held legally accountable. Such decisions reinforce the importance of safeguarding the rights of copyright owners.